IT News
Imphal, Jan 5:
The Editor of Hueiyen Lanpao, a prominent vernacular daily, Dhanabir Maibam, was detained by Imphal police today. The reason behind his detention remains undisclosed, adding to the growing concerns about press freedom in the state.
Sources familiar with the matter suggest that Dhanabir Maibam’s detention might be linked to the newspaper’s recent coverage of the law and order situation in Manipur. The media house has been actively reporting on the ongoing issues, and speculations arise that the arrest could be an attempt to suppress critical reporting and control the narrative.
This development comes on the heels of the arrest of a senior editor from Kangleipakki Meira, an evening newspaper in Imphal, just a week ago. Wangkhemcha Shyamjai, former president of the All Manipur Working Journalists Union, faced charges related to publishing unverified news. The government argued that the content had the potential to incite communal disharmony and escalate unrest in the state.
Shyamjai’s arrest, based on a suo moto case initiated by the police, resulted in a three-day police custody before he was released on bail. The consecutive detentions of senior journalists raise concerns about the state of media freedom in Manipur, prompting discussions on the need to safeguard the rights of journalists to report on critical issues without fear of reprisal.
