Imphal: Journalists from across Manipur, representing both print and electronic media, staged a sit-in at Keishampat Leimajam Leikai, Imphal, on Friday to protest the attack on the editor-in-chief of a vernacular daily.
The All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) and the Editors Guild Manipur (EGM), the apex media bodies in the state, organised the protest two days after the senior editor-in-chief of the local daily Naharolgi Thoudang, Khoirom Loyalakpa, was assaulted at gunpoint by unknown armed men.
A festoon at the protest read, “Protest against attempt on the life of a journalist.” Placards carried messages such as, “We condemn attack on journalist,” “Do not attempt to take the life of any journalist,” and “Stop terrorising the media.”
The incident occurred near Hatta War Cemetery under the jurisdiction of Porompat Police Station in Imphal East on the night of February 18. The injured editor of the Imphal-based daily Naharolgi Thoudang was rushed to JNIMS Hospital for treatment and was later discharged. He is reportedly recovering at home.
The apex media bodies have urged the authorities concerned to launch an immediate and thorough investigation, identify those responsible, and take swift legal action to bring the perpetrators to justice. The assailants remain at large despite the police registering a case in connection with the incident.
Khogendra Khomdram, president of the EGM, said that attacks on journalists are an assault on press freedom and pose a serious threat to the safety and security of media professionals performing their duties.
Condemning the state government’s continued silence on the matter, he added that any form of intimidation, coercion, or violence against journalists is unacceptable in a democratic society.