Imphal, February 12: Following the 48 hours deadline set by the Editors' Forum Manipur and All Manipur Working Journalists' Union to clarify for the attack on the general secretary of AMWJU, Ratan Luwangcha by unidentified gunmen at his Uripok Bachaspati Leikai on February 9 morning, the Kangleipak Communist Party has claimed responsibility for the attack.

A joint statement issued by the Editors' Forum, Manipur and All Manipur Working Journalists' Union today said that a statement issued by its publicity secretary Pibarel Mangang claimed responsibility for the attack on Ratan Luwangcha.

However as the statement issued by the outfit is deemed to be one sided, the scribes' bodies, during a meeting held today at the Press Club, decided to publish the KCP's statement along with the version of the injured scribe.

The version of Ratan will be sought when his health improves, added the statement.

Ratan Luwangcha is currently undergoing treatment at Shija Hospitals and Research Centre, Langol.

The meeting also decided that the Editors' Forum and All Manipur Working Journalists' Union will continue to discuss the issue over the shooting of Ratan.

The scribes also condemned the manner in which Ratan was attacked despite an earlier clause which stated that before anyone or any organisation decides to take action against any journalist or a news organisation, the matter be first discussed at the level of the editor to work out a solution.

If this fails then the matter may be brought to the notice of AMWJU or EFM, the clause had specifically laid down.

The manner in which the matter was not brought before the notice of the AMWJU and the EFM was unfortunate, added the statement.

Despite the decision taken by the EFM and AMWJU to earlier blank out all statements issued by the KCP until their internal issues are resolved, the meeting today decided to convey the claim of the outfit as it was an extraordinary matter, added the statement.

The newspaper houses in Imphal and local TV news network ISTV ceased publication and broadcasting of news on February 11 and 12 to protest the attack on Ratan.

A sit-in-protest was also held at Keishampat junction during the said 2 days.

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