IT News
Imphal, March 1:
The Editors Guild Manipur (EGM) and All Manipur Working Journalists Union (AMWJU) condemn and take strong exception to the manhandling and preventing of journalists covering 12 Manipur State Assembly at two different spots in Manipur yesterday. Supporters of a particular candidate manhandled journalists of TOM TV while he was covering the election at the Naoriya Pakhanglakpa AC. According to the journalist Sagolsem Hemchandra some persons said to be workers of Naoriya Pakhanglakpa AC Candidate Subhaschandra of NPP accosted him while he was doing his duty at Ningombam area and manhandled him and asked him to delete footage he had taken. The team also snatched away his helmet and threatened him in spite of telling them that he was a journalist and showing his press card. They forcibly made him take off his mask and took photograph.
In another incident, a team of journalists from Churachandpur was stopped by a group of armed person in uniform while they were on their way to cover an election-related crime in Teikot polling station under Singhat AC. The team was stopped just outside the Teikot village by the armed people suspected to be militants under Suspension of Operation. The armed group prevented the media team from entering the village and was turned back.
The EGM, strongly condemned these actions and demanded that the state government and office of the Chief Election Officer of Manipur take appropriate action within a reasonable time frame, failing which stern action may be mounted by the media fraternity in Manipur. Both the incidents are attacks on the Media and freedom of expression.
EGM and the AMWJU are submitting a complaint to the CEO, Manipur soon.
