After bomb-gift at Thoudang, hand grenade hurled at Sangai
Scribes take out protest rally
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Imphal, January 07 2012:
Even as media fraternity in Manipur took out a silent protest rally here today decrying repeated threats and diktats issued to media houses by various UG groups, the office of The Sangai Express located at Sega Road, Thouda Bhabok came under bomb attack last night.
The protest rally was held under the aegis of The All Manipur Working Journalists Union (AMWJU) .
Starting from Tiddim Ground, the agitated mediapersons carried placards inscribed with wordings like 'Stop gun and bomb culture', 'Stop attack on media', 'Don't threaten media houses', 'Bomb is not the solution', 'Stop gagging media', 'Allow media to work freely', 'Is media your target?', 'Don't extort publicity from media', 'Is attacking the media justified?', 'We have no friends no foes', etc and snaked through Tiddim Road, Keishhampat, Wahengleikai, BT Road before converging at Manipur Press Club, Majorkhul.
The bomb attack at the office of The Sangai Express took place last night at around 11 .
Some motorcycle borne armed persons reportedly lobbed the bomb and fled from scene soon after.
Fortunately, the bomb did not explode.
A team of Imphal West police retrieved the hand grenade and later defused it safely.
The bomb attack at the office of The Sangai Express has come about after the packaged-bomb left at the office of Naharolgi Thoudang daily by proscribed UG group KCP (Lanchen Chanu) group on January 2 .
Meanwhile, expressing serious concern over rising threats to the media fraternity in the state, All Manipur Working Journalist Union (AMWJU) has strongly condemned the bomb attack at the office of Sangai Express daily on the night of January 6 at around 11 .
In a statement, AMWJU categorically observed that threats to media houses will not bring any good to the society since media is the mirror of the society.
It is very unfortunate for the state to provide armed security guards at media houses and it is a shame in front of other media houses of the world.
AMWJU also appealed to all the people and various social organisations in the state to allow the mediapersons in Manipur to discharge their duties freely and without disturbances from any quarters.