Delhi NE Media Forum condemns Imphal incident
Source: The Sangai Express / Ninglun Hanghal
Imphal, December 24 2012:
The Delhi based North East Media Forum (NEMF) condemned the killing of journalist Thangjam Dijwamani in Imphal on Sunday during the police firing against protesters over the molestation of an actress by an NSCN (IM) cadre.
The Forum also extended condolence to the bereaved family and friends of the journalist and stands by them in this difficult time.
The message issued by the Forum President Utpal Borpujari and General Secretary and Nishit Dholabhai stated that media persons in Manipur have been braving attacks and threats from a medley of resistance groups.
However, the indiscriminate firing by the police on Sunday shows that the Government neither has a mechanism in place to ensure safety of media persons nor the police and security personnel were sensitized to deal with the media, especially with reporters and photographers covering the spots.
Expressing solidarity with journalist in Manipur , The NEMF demands that the State Government initiate an independent probe into the Sunday incident in Imphal and assure that the guilty are punished and such an incident is not repeated.
The Forum also condemn police brutality in New Delhi on Sunday when media persons and photo-journalists were beaten up by police while covering the protest against the gang rape of the 23 year old.
The NEMF demanded that an independent probe be initiated by the Manipur Government into the shameful incident and the Government assure the vibrant media of Manipur that the guilty are punished and such an incident is not repeated.