MHJU flays assault on scribe
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, February 19 2014:
Manipur Hill Journalists' Union (MHJU) has strongly condemned the incident of physical assault on Imphal Free Press Senior Reporter Aribam Chaoba Sharma, who is also a Standing Committee member of AMWJU, by the 1st IRB security personnel on February 10, 2014 near Minuthong, North Kangla Gate on his way back home from office at around 11.30 pm.
Describing the action of the security personnel on the journalist as barbaric, MHJU called upon all right thinking individuals to join hands in fighting against such incidents on journalists in Manipur.
It is also highly questionable the delay in taking up action by the police.
Though a formal complaint regarding the assault was lodged on the next day, the police registered an FIR only on February 12, 2014 at 7.30 pm.
In spite of the promise made by the state government to book and take appropriate actions against the culprit, no action has been taken so far, General Secretary of MHJU S Nengkhanlun Zou lamented in a statement.
Express its solidarity to the demands and stand of AMWJU) on the issue, the Union has also demanded appropriate action against the accused IRB Havildar Md Majibur and urged the authorities concerned to do the needful in this regard at the earliest.