Imphal, February 22: Following the statement issued by the publicity secretary of the KCP, Pibarel Mangang in connection with the assault launched on the general secretary of AMWJU, the Editors' Forum, Manipur and AMWJU today held a joint meeting at the Manipur Press Club.

After minutely discussing the matter, the scribes' bodies said that they have nothing against the proposal of the KCP to submit the white paper to the two outfits which have launched its own independent investigation into the matter.The white paper was demanded by the scribes bodies to substantiate the charges levelled against Ratan by the KCP.

However to enable the AMWJU and EFM to take their own independent decision, the meeting decided that a copy of the white paper too must be submitted to them.

Earlier, EFM and AM-WJU had stated that until and unless the white paper is submitted, Ratan will be treated as innocent.

Responding to the observation of the KCP that AMWJU and EFM have demanded a white paper only in the case of Ratan and not in some earlier cases, the two scribes bodies in a statement explained that they could not demand a white paper from anyone as no organisation had heeded their demand to own up clarify the reason when some journalists were shot dead earlier.

In this case since the KCP claimed responsibility for the attack on the journalist, AMWJU and EFM had to opportunity to demand a white paper and to substantiate the charges levelled against him.

The meeting endorsed the stand of the KCP in claiming the responsibility for the attack on Ratan Luwangcha as well as for giving the assurance that it will submit a white paper on the case.

Ratan was attacked by KCP cadres at his residence in the morning of February 9 and hesuffered two bullet injuries, one on the leg and the other on the abdomen.

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