Media comes out strongly against arson
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 08 2024: Vehemently condemning the burning of a huge quantity of newsprint and other printing materials by some unidentified men at Kangpokpi in broad daylight on August 7, print media will suspend publication of newspapers on August 10 while electronic media will stop broadcasting news on August 9 .

The All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU) and the Editors' Guild Manipur held a joint meeting at Manipur Press Club here today and condemned the deliberate targeting of newsprint and printing materials in the strongest terms.

The meeting also decided to stage a protest demonstration at Manipur Press Club on Friday by suspending the day's work.

Media comes out strongly against arson

The State Government, the Security Advisor and the DGP should be held accountable for the arson because AMWJU and EGM have been repeatedly appealing to them since the violence broke out to ensure that transportation of newsprint and printing materials are not disturbed.

But the Government and the security forces are unable to stop extortion and harassment of transporters by unidentified persons while transporting newsprint and other printing materials on both Imphal-Jiribam highway and Imphal-Dimapur highway, said a press release issued by AMWJU and EGM.

It asserted that the State Government must pay adequate compensation for the newsprint and other printing materials burnt down at Kangpokpi on August 7, 2024 .

Senapati and Kangpokpi sections of Imphal-Dimapur highway as well as Tamenglong and Noney sections of Imphal-Jiribam highway are under the security jurisdiction of IGAR (E) but it appears that IGAR (E) is not performing their duty sincerely on these highway sections, it said.

AMWJU and EGM further urged the authority concerned to hand over the security responsibility of these highway sections to eitheir the Army's Red Shield Division or the IGAR (S) .

It then appealed to all newspaper distributors, printing staff and others related to media to join tomorrow's protest which would start at 10 am .