In a brazen attack on press freedom, unknown armed assailants opened fire on the vehicle of Khoirom Loyalakpa, Editor-in-Chief of the vernacular daily Naharolgi Thoudang, before physically assaulting him late Wednesday night in Imphal East district.
The incident occurred around 10 pm near Hatta War Cemetery under the jurisdiction of Porompat Police Station. According to sources, a car suspected to be a Maruti Swift had been trailing Loyalakpa’s vehicle before intercepting it on the road. The assailants reportedly blocked his path, alighted from their vehicle and fired two rounds at the left window glass of his car.
The attackers then allegedly dragged him out and assaulted him with a hard object, causing injuries to his face and teeth. They fled the scene in the same vehicle as local residents rushed out after hearing the gunshots.
Police teams later recovered two empty .32 calibre bullet cases from the spot. A formal complaint has been lodged at Porompat Police Station, and an investigation has been initiated to identify and apprehend those responsible. Officials stated that the motive behind the attack remains unclear.
Khoirom Loyalakpa also serves as President of the Manipur Hockey Association. In July 2024, unidentified miscreants had fired six rounds at the main gate of his residence in Imphal East, raising concerns over his security. Sources indicated that he had previously received threats from armed groups, and security cover that had been provided to him was reportedly withdrawn last year.
The attack has triggered sharp condemnation from the All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union and the Editors’ Guild of Manipur, which termed the incident a direct assault on the media fraternity and demanded immediate action against the perpetrators. An emergency meeting of the AMWJU and EGM held today eveining while condemning the attack and assualt has resolved to stage a sit-in-protest tomorrow at Keishampat Leimajam Leikai from 10 am to 1 pm.
No arrests had been made at the time of filing this report. Investigation is ongoing.