Journos boycott SP, all cops in Ukhrul
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, March 30 2014:
In an emergency meeting held on Sunday, Ukhrul District Journalists' Association (UDJA) has resolved to boycott Superintendent of Police (SP) of Ukhrul district S.Selvan and all other Manipur Police personnel posted in the district.
According to a statement signed jointly by president of UDJA Sothing Shimray and Secretary Pamreiso Shimray, the meeting seriously deliberated on the alleged high-handedness and unethical conduct meted upon the members of the Fourth Estate who were covering a peaceful rally of students at Ukhrul Mini secretariat at around 11.30 am on Saturday.
The escort party of Ukhrul SP S.Selvan obstructed a team of media persons from performing their duty by way of confiscating their cameras and deliberately deleting the pictures captured on the spot.
The SP and his escort party forced their way through the assembly of students in the premises of Ukhrul Mini secretariat.
SP Selvan threatened the journalists on duty against taking picture of the scene where he acted in a manner very unbecoming of an IPS officer.
UDJA has seriously viewed and condemned his unofficial conduct, the statement said, adding that the journalists in Ukhrul have been maintaining a cordial relationship with the Manipur Police in the district over the years and still looks forward to continue the good rapport with them in future.
On Saturday the 29th March 2014, UDJA, with a good intention to settle the problem in an amicable manner, met and submitted a written representation to the Ukhrul Deputy Commissioner and the same copy forwarded to Ukhrul SP seeking his "unconditional apology" so as to forget the unfortunate incident once and for all.
However, the SP has not responded to the good intention to solve the problem.
Consequently, the decision to boycott Selvan and Manipur Police in the entire district of Ukhrul was taken after a serious deliberation in an Emergency Meeting of UDJA, the statement explained.