Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 07 2008:
The All Manipur Working Journalists' Union has strongly condemned the detention as well as accusations hurled against reporters by the people of Thambal Khong, Imphal East when the scribes had gone to the place yesterday evening to cover an incident in which two suspected militants were killed.
In a statement, AMWJU said that the local people not only detained the reporters but also accused them of working in cahoots with police commandos to stage fake encounters.
Making its stand clear, AMWJU said that newsmen have no friends or foes.
It is natural for reporters to rush to the site of any incident and that was what they did at Thambal Khong yesterday, it added.
The statement also urged the local people of Thambal Khong to ensure that such ugly an incident does not recur in the future.
Instead of harassing newsmen on duty, the public should extend their co-operation and help to them, added AMWJU.