Imphal: The Indian Journalists Union (IJU) has urged the Manipur government to order an intensive, time-bound inquiry into the attempted assassination of a senior editor in Imphal and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice without delay.
In a joint statement, IJU president Geetartha Pathak and secretary-general Vinod Kohli called on the Manipur Police to expedite the investigation into the FIR registered at Porompat police station and to ensure that the armed assailants behind the ambush are apprehended at the earliest.
The union described the attack on senior editor Khoirom Loyalakpa as not merely an assault on an individual but a direct attack on the freedom of the press. It termed the incident a calculated attempt to intimidate and silence the media in Manipur. The IJU also pointed out that this was not the first time Loyalakpa had been targeted, referring to an earlier attack on his residence in 2024.
Expressing deep shock, the union strongly condemned what it described as a “cowardly assault” on Loyalakpa, who is editor-in-chief of the Manipuri vernacular daily Naharolgi Thoudang and president of the Manipur Hockey Association.
According to reports, on the night of February 18 at around 10 p.m., armed miscreants intercepted Loyalakpa’s vehicle near Hatta War Cemetery in Imphal East. The attackers allegedly fired at least two rounds at his car before forcibly dragging him out and assaulting him with blunt objects. He sustained serious injuries to his face and teeth and was rushed to the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) for treatment.
The IJU urged the State government to ensure the safety and security of journalists and to take stringent action against those seeking to undermine press freedom through violence and intimidation.