1. Armed individuals reportedly intimidated a Manipur-based reporter over published news.
2. Journalist community demands government intervention within five days.
3. Incident raises concerns over press freedom and safety of media personnel.
Imphal, May 11: Unknown armed individuals allegedly threatened a reporter from a Manipur-based media outlet over a specific news article. The journalist fraternity calls for government action within five days.
Around 10 armed individuals reportedly visited the residence of Imphal Times reporter Khumanthem Dhanachandra on May 9. Dressed in combat attire and carrying sophisticated weapons, they warned Dhanachandra’s family members as he was not home at the time.
In response to the incident, the All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) and Editors’ Guild Manipur (EGM) held an emergency meeting. They condemned the incident and urged the state government to take legal action against the perpetrators within five days.
A joint statement by AMWJU and EGM described the incident, stating that armed miscreants visited Dhanachandra’s residence and intimidated him.
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Dhanachandra, who is a member of AMWJU’s RTI Cell, was asked to meet them at a specific location in Imphal West on May 10 at 10 am.
The statement condemned the incident as an attempt to silence the media and emphasized the need for swift action.
AMWJU and EGM emphasized the seriousness of the incident and demanded that authorities take appropriate legal action against those responsible for threatening the reporter.
They warned of strong agitation if their demand was not met within five days.
The statement also called for an end to threats against media personnel and urged respect for AMWJU’s code of conduct.
It encouraged anyone unhappy with a news story to address their concerns through appropriate channels rather than resorting to intimidation tactics.
