Journalists in Manipur resumed their professional responsibilities on May 22 after observing a statewide pen-down strike the previous day. However, they reportedly decided to continue boycotting all news and information related to the Manipur State Government and the security forces until the report of the Inquiry Committee, constituted by the Governor, is submitted and appropriate action is taken.
This decision was said to have been taken during a joint emergency meeting of the All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) and the Editors’ Guild Manipur (EGM), which reconvened at 5:30 PM on May 21 following an earlier adjournment that allowed for a meeting with the Governor. Sources from the meeting indicated that the journalists’ organisations expressed their deep dissatisfaction over the events of May 20, when security personnel at Gwaltabi reportedly stopped a Manipur State Transport (MST) bus carrying journalists and instructed them to conceal the word “Manipur” displayed on the vehicle.
It was reportedly resolved at the meeting that the pen-down strike would remain confined to May 21, and that normal reporting activities would resume the following day. However, the journalists reportedly agreed that they would not cover any state government-related activities or those involving state and central security forces in the state until the inquiry process is completed and accountability is established.
The AMWJU and EGM were also said to have agreed to submit a formal recommendation to the Chief Secretary requesting a modification to the government’s May 21 order that constituted the Inquiry Committee. According to sources, the recommendation seeks the inclusion of a directive for the committee to not only identify lapses but also recommend penalties against those whose actions or negligence led to the obstruction and harassment of the journalist team.
In addition, the journalist associations were understood to have urged the state government to transfer the security personnel involved in the incident to another location for the duration of the inquiry. They reportedly argued that retaining the same personnel at the site of the incident would undermine public trust in the investigation.
Though a limited relaxation has reportedly been granted for the coverage of certain events related to the Shirui Lily Festival, the boycott of government programmes—particularly those attended by officials—would remain in effect. The media organisations are said to have made it clear that their protest goes beyond the Gwaltabi incident and reflects a deeper concern over the suppression of press freedom and the symbolic targeting of the state’s identity.
The Inquiry Committee, which includes senior government officials, has been given a deadline of 15 days to submit its findings. Until then, the journalist community has reportedly resolved to maintain unity in their demand for transparency, justice, and accountability.