Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 20:
Even as Union Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee is scheduled to address the media tomorrow at Leimakhong, the All Manipur Working Journalists' Union has decided to boycott all function, press releases, defence sponsored programmes and civic action programmes handed out by the Defence Ministry with immediate effect.
Outlining the reasons for its stand, the scribes body said that a Major of 5/8 Gorkha Regiment snatched away three digital cameras of two vernacular dailies yesterday at RIMS, when the reporters had gone to cover a story in connection with an incident at Bishnupur.
However following a letter of regret from the office of GOC Hqs 57 Mountain Division, AMWJU decided late this evening to relax its stand of boycotting handouts and programmes of Defence Ministry.
The matter will be put up before the 3 Corps Commander as he is the over all Commander of the troops deployed in Manipur, said a statement.
AMWJU will also seek the details of the measures initiated for its demand which must be intimated within one week.
A memorandum addressed to the Union Defence Minister said that as the first step, AMWJU has resolved to condemn the incident in the strongest words, to boycott all function, press releases, defence sponsored programmes and civic action programme carried out or handed out by the Defence Ministry and to refrain from taking back the cameras in good condition until appropriate action is taken up against the guilty personnel within one week and an assurance from the 3 Corps Commander that such incidents will not be allowed to be repeated.
Detailing the incident, the memorandum said that at about 10 pm of September 19, a Major of 5/8 Gorkha Regiment who had brought some injured personnel of the Regiment to RIMS hospital snatched away three cameras from the reporters of Matamgi Yakairol (2 cameras) and Poknapham (1 camera).
The reporters were on duty to cover the list of injured personnel who were brought to the hospital after the incident at Bishnupur, said the memorandum.
A Major of the Regiment asked a group of journalists who had converged at RIMS to delete the pictures they had taken.
Later the Major snatched the cameras from the reporters and even threatened to smash them when asked by one reporter to switch off the camera as it was in on mode.