Imphal, October 25 2009: As part of the boycott agitation launched by the Imphal-based journalists against the state government, the All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU) and Editors of newspapers have decided to surrender their identity cards issued by the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), Government of Manipur to its Director at 11 am of Tuesday, October 27 .

The decision was taken at a meeting of AMWJU and Editors held at the Manipur Press Club at Major Khul this evening.

Even after surrendering the identity cards of the journalists to the DIPR, if the government still remains silent, then the AMWJU will take steps to return the building of Manipur Press Club given to the Union by the government of Manipur to the authority, the meeting decided.

The decision of surrendering the identity cards to the DIPR has been taken since the journalists are feeling insecured by possessing the identity cards, stated a press release issued by the general secretary of AMWJU, Yambem Henry.

It stated, even though two journalists had identified themselves as journalists by producing their identity cards, some personnel of Manipur police commandos had threatened them with shooting them to death on the night of October 10 on BT road, Imphal.

The journalists have brought the incident to the notice of the state government.

However, the government has remained silent which makes the journalists feel scared.

Therefore, in order to save themselves (the journalists) from being threatened to be shot dead by police commandos, the AMWJU and the Editors jointly resolved to surrender the identity cards, stated the press release.