Minister vows action if scribes harmed
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 05 2024: Information and Public Relations (IPR) minister Dr Sapam Ran-jan has assured of initiating suitable action by the state government against all those involved in harassing, intimidating or assaulting journalists on duty.

Opposition MLA K Meghachandra moved a cut motion during Monday's discussion on demand for grant of IPR amounting to Rs 19,50,21,000 in the state assembly along with enquiring about the steps taken by the state government with regard to threats, both physical and verbal, faced by media persons while discharging their duties.

Responding to the motion, Dr Ranjan said that the state government has taken up many steps for the welfare of media persons in the state through the Department of Information and Public Relations, including issuance of government press cards to select media persons to allow them perform their duty without any issues.

The press cards are provided after careful examination by a joint committee comprising representatives of All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU), Editors' Guild Manipur (EGM) and Hill Journalists' Union.

As of now, 106 accredited and 400 general cards have been provided.

In addition, curfew passes are provided to media persons from time to time as and when necessary, informed the minister.

Regarding opposition's posers on firing attack at the gate of Naharolgi Thoudang editor Khoirom Loyalkapa, he claimed that the Home Department has taken serious note of the incident with SPs concerned having already collected the CCTV footages and working to identify the attackers.

On unidentified men barging into the residence of an Imphal Times reporter and threatening him on July 9, he said FIR has been registered and investigation is underway to identify the culprits.

Meanwhile, regarding the latest incident of assault of a reporter of Impact TV by a sub inspector, AMWJU and EGM representatives met the chief minister, and requisite actions have been initiated, the minister added.

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