MHA officials attempt to snatch camera from HL Reporter
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, November 12 2014:
Obstructing the normal functioning of dutiful journalists is not a bizarre happening in Manipur.
Escorts in civil dress who accompanied one of the Internal Security Officers of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) tried to snatch the camera of reporter Mutum Rameshchandra of this Daily in front of the 'Big Media' along Wahengbam Leikai road at Imphal today afternoon.
The reporter, on seeing a black colour car with flag post and bacon light being parked at the roadside at around 3 pm, took a photograph of the parking car bearing registration no.ML 05F-7636.As the state government recently issued guidelines allowing erection of bacon lights only for a few VVIP/VIP vehicles, the reporter photographed the vehicle apprehending that some people were violating the government guidelines.
|
As the reporter was about to leave the place after taking photographs, some people who came down from a bolero told him to erase the pictures in the camera.
The reporter, who identified himself as a journalist, refused to remove the photographs, saying the mater needed to be intimated to the editor.
The argument heightened between the reporter and the personnel who identified themselves as team of MHA.
The MHA security escorts threatened the reporter to be arrested, if the clippings were not wiped out.
In the meantime, the reporter informed the editor of this Daily through mobile phone.
Later the reporter was asked to meet the officer who again insisted him to erase the photo clippings.
The Officer warned him by saying 'if someone planted bomb in the car, you have to take the responsibility'.
Continuing to threaten the reporter with arrest, the officer took a snap of the reporter with his mobile handset.
He even directed his escorts to arrest the reporter and seize his identity card.
In the meantime, vice president of All Manipur Working Journalists Union (AMWJU) Ratan Luwangcha arrived at the spot and identified the journalist to the MHA officer.
After a long interaction with the AMWJU VP, the officer called in the reporter and regretted for the incident which he claimed to have happened due to misunderstanding.
The MHA official, who obstructed the functioning of the journalist, was later identified as Dr.Monoranjan Khuman from Pishum Ningom Leirak, Imphal.