IJU flays summoning of State journo by NIA
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Imphal, January 24 2014 :
The Indian Journalists Union (IJU) has strongly condemned the summoning of the editor of Imphal based daily Naharolgee Thoudang, Kh.
Loyalakpa by the National Investigative Agency (NIA) for divulging of source of certain news item relating to an underground group.
The editor of Naharolgee Thoudang had received a communication order on August 8, 2013 from NIA demanding that he hands over the original image of a picture published regarding the 32 Raising Day parade of Peoples' Liberation Army (PLA), the armed wing of the banned armed group, Revolutionary Peoples Front (RPF) published in his newspaper in September, 2010, and also to reveal the name and details of the reporter who took the photograph.
Regarding the matter, the Press Council of India has already forwarded a notice to the NIA stating that it would be a case of violation of the working of the press as it involves disclosing the details of the source.
The IJU has also said the summoning of the journalist by NIA is a clear case of intervention into the freedom of media which is driven from freedom of expression enshrined in the Constitution.
Hence, The IJU has appealed to the Press Council of India (PCI) to immediately intervene in this matter.
The IJU has also lodged a complaint with the PCI earlier when the Deputy Superintendent of police official under NIA had summoned the editor asking him to produce certain papers and information relating to the armed group.
The IJU said that it is not aware of what action the PCI has taken on this complaint.
The union therefore, requests the PCI to do something for upholding freedom of media for which PCI was constituted, the union state.
On the other hand, All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU) has extended all possible assistance to the journalist and said that the union would face any eventuality in this regard.