CCpur newspapers to cease publication
Source: The Sangai Express
CCpur, May 21 2020:
Five Churachandpur based dailies have today announced their decision to cease publication from Saturday as they believe they are considered irrelevant by the DM/DC Pawan Yadav and receive no respite from the prohibitory order he had issued yesterday.
The decision taken by the Editors of the dailies, Nisin Thuhiltu, Hmasawnna Thar, Lamka Post, Manipur Express and Zogam Today was adopted today in their emergency meeting called to deliberate on the emerging situation in the wake of Coronavirus (COVID-19) menace in Manipur in general, and its sudden spurt during the last two days in CCpur district in particular, said a memo of the meeting released later in the day.
The meeting noted with serious concern the spiralling number of positive cases in the district, and maintained that the situation may go out of hand unless proactive and strict containment measures are not initiated.
It also took note of the fact that all media-related activities were exempted from all phases of lockdown preview and the latest order issued by the Chief Secretary, Dr J Suresh Babu, in his office memorandum dated May 16, 2020 mentioned (para II) that cancellation or restriction on movement does not apply to "members of the print and electronic media on production of Identity Cards" .
However, Pawan Yadav, DC/DM of CCpur, in his prohibitory order dated 20th May, 2020 ignored the office memorandum of the Chief Secretary pertaining to the media fraternity and no exemption was made.
As such, there is every likelihood in the disturbance of movement of reporters and hawkers in the discharge of their duties, they alleged.
The Churachandpur media houses also conveyed with regret that the present DM/DC, unlike his predecessors, failed to acknowledge the existence of the press, and as such, important announcements and notices were not endorsed to the newspapers.
The mismanagement of the returnees has resulted in the spurt in COVID-19 cases, and unless the District Administration takes up corrective steps, even the community at large is no longer safe, said the Editors.
With the situation delicately balanced and the media covered by the prohibitory order issued by the DC/DM, CCpur, the Editors, in the interest of the safety of all office staff, reporters and hawkers, have resolved to suspend publication of newspapers with effect from May 23, 2020 issue until further notice, it declared.