AMWJU condemns
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 17 2016:
The All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU) has strongly condemned misuse of press identify card.
In a statement, the union said that police have arrested a man who was found carrying a fake press identity card from Alia Crossing, near Lilong bazar today.
The man has been identified as Okram Zeemat Singh s/o Okram Shamungou Singh of Singjamei Makha Aheibam Leikai, Kakwa, Imphal West.
He was apprehended by personnel of Lilong police who were on a frisking duty as part of the road opening party for the Chief Minister's scheduled Thoubal visit at around 3.15 pm today.
When he was stopped by the police, the man produced a press identify card and claimed that he is the cameraman cum online editor of the popular news portal, e-pao.net.
Upon investigation, the police recovered 30 SP capsules and a strip of N-10 tablets from his possession, the statement said.
Upon learning about the incident, a team of AMWJU's Standing Committee immediately verified through the legitimate staff of e-pao.net that Okram Zeemat does not belong to the media organization and the press card he produced was a fake.
In fact, e-pao.net clarified that it does not issue any identity cards to its staff.
Further, the AMWJU's executive body requested the Lilong police to take up stern action against the imposter.
The union also requested the police to conduct a thorough investigation to ascertain whether there is a gang operating using fake press cards, the statement said.
Taking serious note of the incident, AMWJU appealed to all concerned to check such crimes.
The union said that such incident would not only malign the image of the journalist community but also obstruct the free and fair functioning of the press.
Significantly, the incident comes at a time when the union is actively campaigning to prevent misuse of press labels/stickers.