Militants in Manipur want journalists and doctors to follow their diktats
By ANITuesday, September 21, 2010
Imphal, Sep.21 (ANI): Many professionals in Manipur believe that they are not safe here, as they have to face threats from different factions of the militant outfit Kangeipak-Communist Party (KCP). ecently, the KCP-MC (Lanchaba) faction issued a media release for publication. Many publications did not publish it in public interest and the militant outfit started threatening them.
The incident was widely condemned by All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union and they convened an emergency General Body Meeting to discuss the issue.
“We are facing lots of threats from various militant groups. Media fraternity is always under pressure to print or telecast press release from them. Our humble request is that they should not interfere in our work. We are the fourth pillar of the society and we’ll work for the interest of the people,” said N. Philips Singh, the General Secretary of All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union.
To show solidarity, newspaper offices in Manipur suspended work for the day.
People have condemned threats to the media.
“Freedom of press should be given to media and it should be spared from all these interference,” said Khuprethang Kom, a resident.
In another shocking incident, a woman doctor R.K. Joymati Devi and a nurse Kavita Devi were abducted by suspected KCP-Mobile Task Force militants.
On September 13, a doctor and nurse were taken away from Mekola Primary Health Centre on the pretext of a false emergency call. It was later learnt that the abduction was connected to the inability of Primary Health Center to pay money to the militant group.
A combined team of 39-Assam Rifles and Bishenpur Police Commando rescued Joymati and Kavita Devi.
“The security personnel have done an excellent job while rescuing us. They protected us from the insurgents,” said DR. R.K. Joymati Devi, the rescued doctor.
“The abducted persons were rescued from Shantipur village. They were kept in a hut in the location,” said Isak Shah, Additional Superintendent of Police, Bishenpur District Police. (ANI)
