Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 30 2010:
The All Manipur Working Journalists' union has strongly condemned the assault of a staff Reporter of Naharolgi Thoudang daily namely Yumnam Ibomcha by two Manipur Rifles personnel deployed at the babupara office of Imphal West district's Deputy Commissioner at about 2.40 pm today.
An emergency meeting of the AMWJU Standing Committee and editors held today resolved to demand exemplary punishment (suspension) of the guilty personnel, adequate compensation be paid to the reporter for medical treatment and to set a deadline of July 2 to honour the demands failing which further course of action would be initiated.
An AMWJU release said ibomcha was assaulted when he went to collect information concerning detection of a gang dealing in distribution of fake diesel permits.
It is said that the MR guards charged the scribe of being a relative of one of the gang members and inspite of Ibomcha pleading that he was a reporter and had come to collect information about the fake permit issue, he was taken to a dingy corner of the office complex where he was punched and kicked.
The Editor of the daily has also lodged a written complaint to the OC, Imphal City for necessary action, the AMWJU added.
This is not the first time that reporters on duty have been assaulted by security forces and there have been instances of the media in Imphal boycotting all Govt related news to lodge their protest.