Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 24 2010:
The Manipur Hill Journalist' Union, after duly offering a 2 pm deadline ti an armed group to tender an apology for the threat served on a local reporter by a top ranking functionary has now decided on an extensive agitation including suspension of publication from today.
As such no newspapers registered under the Union will hit the stands tomorrow.
A sit-in-protest will be held as well within the township beginning tomorrow to demand immediate action from the Government, and will continue until the Government acts on the demands of the Union.
A representation of the Union submitted to the Chief Minister later today said the incumbent finance secretary of KNF (MC), an SoO signatory had instructed the reporter of Lamka Post, a local daily to retract their news item published on 29 July wherein a misappropriation of ICDS Hot Cook Meal was carried.
As the newspaper failed to do so with the argument that their report was factual, the said outfit on the excuse that the news report was too detail and capable of implicating some officials, text an order though mobile SMS demanding once again, a corrigendum.
The final threat, warning the reporter to refrain from venturing into Tuibuong area, came through a mobile no.9612042180 moments after the reporter and the finance secretary met at the Deputy Commissioner's premises.
The text reads, 'you are forgiven for today but from tomorrow there shall be no more warning.' Seeing no reason for the armed group to issue such threats for publishing the report, the Union after their initial dateline expires, request the Government to act on the armed group which is also a signatory of the SoO and the officials that were working hand-in-glove with the armed group.
It is worth mentioning that some functionaries of the Churachandpur Anganwadi Mahila Organisation (CAMO) have also threaten the reporter even after the issue was published all over the newspapers today.