Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 30 2010:
The Manipur Hill Journalists' Union has been deeply offended and anguished over the verbal abuse and physical assault on Mr Lalboi, a local reporter of TC Network and Goshem daily by villagers of Phougakchao while covering a commotion between volunteers of Churachandpur District Students' Union and the villagers on July 29 .
A press release issued by the union said that it is the onus of reporters to cover any incident however hostile it may be without any restriction on communal or geographical ranks.
"In doing so we may have suffered unforeseen collateral reparations but not a well-intended inflammatory abuse that are racists and bigoted.
We in the media fraternity are regulated by our profession and not by our colour, creed or affiliation", the union said.
It further asserted that it is high time that the common man in general and the villagers of Phougakchao in particular reassess their perception of this profession that is so revered and honoured all over the world.
Lamenting the assault and the abuse on the profession of journalism, the Manipur Hill Journalist Union kept all their editorial columns blank today, it conveyed.
The message was also sent to the office of the president of the All Manipur Working Journalists' Union today and to discuss the issue, a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Union will held tomorrow at the Manipur Press Club at 1 pm.