Imphal’s journalists demonstrate for free speech after militant death threats

IMPHAL - Hundreds of journalists demonstrate against militant threats that forced media houses to suspend publications in Imphal.

All media houses remained shut and newspapers have not hit the stands for the past two days.

The decision to protest was taken after media houses repeatedly received death threats from two factions of the militant group, Kangleipak Communist Party (Mobile Task Force) (KCP-MTF), if they published statements from the rival group.

The All Manipur Working Journalists Union (AMWJU) carried out the protest across Imphal on Thursday.

N. Tombiraj Singh, a journalist from the Press Trust of India hoped the press would be given freedom in the State.

“Since Manipur is a conflict zone, there is a lot of disturbance in the working of the journalist community,” said Singh.

“They have guns and bombs, we have only the pen. So, how we can survive? We can go against them? So, our request, our humble request, is just to spare the press and the journalists, our demand is press should be free zone,” he added.

AMWJU also submitted a memorandum to the Manipur Chief Minister, Okram Ibobi Singh, urging for security to be provided to the scribes.

“We have met the Chief Minister today and addressed our grievances. He assured us that he will protect the media houses,” said N. Mobi Singh, spokesperson of the AMWJU.

After the mass rally, a sit-in protest was also staged in Imphal.

The Union will decide today whether the publication of newspapers would resume or not. (ANI)