Scribes decry harassment of AMWJU president by NIA
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 03 2022: All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU), Editors' Guild Manipur (EGM) and Manipur Hill Journalists' Union (MHJU) submitted a memorandum to the Governor of Manipur regarding intimidation and mental harassment to AMWJU president Wangkhemcha Shamjai by National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials.

In a release jointly signed by AMWJU vice president, EGM president and MHJU president the scribes' bodies expressed shock and disappointment on the manner in which AMWJU president Shamjai was summoned by the NIA and treated him like an accused person at its Imphal office on Tuesday.

A joint emergency meeting of AMWJU, EGM and MHJU was convened at Manipur Press Club here on Wednesday and expressed strong resentment on such treatment meted out to Shamjai.

The meeting resolved to submit memoranda highlighting such painful episode to the Union Home Minister, Governor, chief minister, Press Council of India (PCI) and Indian Journalists' Union (IJU).

A decision to hold a protest demonstration on Thursday to denounce the interference of the NIA with the media com munity was also taken.

As per the memorandums, on July 30, Shamjai received a phone call from an officer of NIA asking him to turn up at their office at 10 am of Au gust 2.With a clear mind to co-operate with the agency 's investigation, Shamjai went there on time.

However, to his utter surprise, he was left in a small room without being interacted till one officer began interrogating him around noon.

He was then hurled with uncomfortable and unrelated queries in another room.

According to Shamjai, he was also intimidated by the NIA sleuths.

The interrogation continued till around 5 pm.

AMWJU, EGM and MHJU seriously take such excesses of the NIA as an insult and a big challenge to the independence of the media.

Nevertheless, the media fraternity as a law abiding and responsible citizens have been co-operating with any investigation taken up by the law enforcing/investigating agencies.

And, will continue to do so in future.

"This being the case, the fraternity urges upon your good office to look into the matter and take necessary actions to ensure the media fraternity is not further harassed by the NIA or any other investigating agencies in future and hoping a positive response at the earliest, mentioned the memorandum addressed to the Governor.

A copy of the memorandum was also handed over to BJP Manipur Pradesh president A Sharda Devi.

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