It has been more than a month since the distressing Gwaltabi incident of May 20—a day that deeply wounded the pride and morale of Manipur’s journalist fraternity. A day when, shockingly, security forces blocked a media vehicle simply because it bore a ‘Manipur’ signage on its windshield. What could have been dismissed as a moment of misjudgment has instead turned into a festering crisis, thanks to the prolonged silence of the state government.
The initial outrage from the media was not just justified—it was urgent. The incident represented more than a confrontation; it was a blatant insult to press freedom and democratic values. In response, top officials—including the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police—stood before the Governor and the journalists and gave their word: an official enquiry would be conducted within 15 days. That commitment has since faded into oblivion.
Now, more than 30 days later, not a single page of that promised inquiry report has seen the light of day. There has been no explanation, no accountability—only a deafening silence that mocks the very people entrusted with informing the public. The message this sends is disturbing: that the government can make promises to the press and break them without consequence. This is not just institutional indifference—it is institutional disrespect.
Worse still, on the day when journalists staged peaceful protests demanding justice, two reporters from IMPACT TV were allegedly manhandled by security personnel in Nambol while covering the demonstration. The irony is painful. While protesting an attack on the press, journalists were again assaulted—adding salt to an already raw wound.
And yet, despite repeated provocations, the media has responded with commendable restraint. The All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) and the Editors’ Guild Manipur (EGM), which had initially called for a boycott of government news, have since suspended the boycott—but not the movement. In a meeting held yesterday, the two bodies resolved to continue the protest with renewed strategy and unwavering resolve.
It is crucial to recognise that the media is not seeking confrontation—it is demanding justice, dignity, and the protection of a fundamental democratic right. Journalists are not enemies of the state; they are its conscience keepers. Their duty is to question, to inform, and to hold power accountable. Suppressing them is not only unethical—it is dangerous.
What is most disheartening in this entire episode is the government’s unyielding silence. Not a single official statement has been made. No outreach to the media has been attempted. This vacuum of response suggests one of two possibilities—either the state does not understand the importance of a free press, or worse, it does not care.
This sustained indifference sets a dangerous precedent. It emboldens the perpetrators of injustice and signals to others that press intimidation is tolerable. In a state already torn by ethnic conflict, violence, and political instability, silencing the media only adds to the turmoil. A free press is essential not just for accountability, but for peacebuilding and dialogue in a fractured society.
The state government must act—immediately and decisively. The inquiry into the Gwaltabi incident must be initiated without further delay, and the findings made public. Those responsible for the assault on the IMPACT TV journalists must be held accountable. Most importantly, the government must take sincere steps to restore trust and engage in meaningful dialogue with the media fraternity.
In a democracy, respect for the press is not optional—it is essential. The government must rise to the occasion. The silence must end. The time to act is now.