IRB men assault journalist
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 11 2014:
Journalist Aribam Chaoba (Paojel Chaoba) of the Imphal Free Press was severely beaten up by some IRB personnel last night.
Speaking to fellow media persons at Manipur Press Club today, A Chaoba said that he was stopped by some personnel of 1st IRB near Minuthong on his way back home from office at around 11.30 pm.
Chaoba was also asked to lie on on the ground.
At this, Chaoba identified himself as a journalist and refused to follow the absurd bidding of the IRB men.
Chaoba was still detained even after identifying himself as a journalist and a member of AMWJU.
Havildar Md Majibur who was leading the IRB team boasted that he was a close man of Minister Nasir and asked what could journalists do to him.
The next moment, he started raining blows on Chaoba.
Majibur also hit Chaoba on the forehead with his walkie talkie set inflicting severe injuries on the left eyebrow.
Even as Chaoba was bleeding profusely, the IRB team confiscated his two mobile phone handsets.
They also threatened to eliminate Chaoba if he dares to complain about the incident to any relevant authority.
Later, Chaoba was picked by a team of Imphal West Police and given treatment at Raj Polyclinic.
It was only after the arrival of Imphal Free Press Editor K Nillamani at Imphal police station that Chaoba was released.
Chaoba urged all authorities concerned to take necessary actions promptly so that no other fellow journalists are subjected to such inhuman treatment in future.
AMWJU president W Shyamjai while strongly condemning the unwarranted assault asserted that it was direct challenge to the freedom of press.
He also urged the authorities concerned to book all the accused IRB personnel and take up due punitive actions according to law.