Grenade lobbed at office of TSE fails to explode
AMWJU decries, scribes rally against threats and intimidations, highlight issues to CM
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 07 2012: Barely four days after a bomb was found planted at the office of Naharolgi Thoudang, a vernacular daily on January 2, a hand grenade was lobbed at the office of The Sangai Express at about 11.30 pm of January 6 .

Though the lever/pin of the hand grenade was found pulled out, the grenade failed to explode.

As media offices were closed on January 6 on account of the foundation of Manipur Press Club, there was no one at the office of TSE, save for the security personnel provided by the Government after the January 2 bomb.

The security personnel placed at TSE said that they saw a silver grey coloured Maruti 800 car coming from the direction of Kwakeithel side and then taking a U turn in front of Tiddim oil pump and heading towards the west where the office of TSE stands.

As the car neared the office, the occupants rolled down the window glass and lobbed the grenade which fell a few yards in front of the office, rolled a few distance and came to a stop.

Scribes take out a rally, the spot where the grenade fell in front of the office of TSE and the hand grenade

Since it was pitch dark outside, the security personnel failed to note down the registration number of the car.

The grenade was retrieved by the bomb squad of the State police in the night itself.

To condemn the placing of a bomb at the office of Naharolgi Thoudang on January 2 as well as the bomb attack at the office of The Sangai Express the All Manipur Working Journalists' Union today staged a protest rally from Tiddim ground along the airport road upto Manipur Press Club.

Participated by the media fraternity of the State and actively supported by the Manipur Hills Journalists' Union and media representatives from Ukhrul, the rally started from Tiddim ground at about 9 am and proceeded along Waheng Leikai and after crossing Maharani bridge proceeded towards BT Road to the Western Gate of Kangla.

From there the media persons turned towards the office of Manipur Press Club along Kanglapat road.

The media persons held placards and festoons which read as "Stop attack on media", "Is media your target?", "Don't threaten the media", "Don't extort publicity from media", "Is attacking the media justified?", "We have no friends, no foes", "Media has no enemy" etc.

After the rally senior Editors and office bearers of the All Manipur Working Journalists called on the Chief Minister and highlighted the grave situation under which media persons have had to work for long.

This was the second 'bomb incident' at the office of The Sangai Express in the past five years, the first one coming in 2007 when a 'gift wrapped bomb' was placed.

AMWJU condemns : The All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU) has strongly condemned the act of hurling a bomb at the office of The Sangai Express last night.

The act of planting a bomb at the office of Naharolgi Thoudang on January 2 and last night's bomb attack at the office of The Sangai Express were direct challenges to the freedom of the press and such acts cannot bring anything positive in the society, said a press release issued by AMWJU president A Mobi.

The perpetual threats to media and deployment of security forces in media offices are unheard of in any part of the world, said the statement.

AMWJU reminded all concerned that media has been working for development, progress and stability in society.

For this, the whole world has accepted that media should be allowed to work in a free and secure atmosphere.

It further appealed to all concerned not to try to browbeat the media to toe their lines and also not to view media as their enemy.

The media in Manipur has for long been working in an environment of threats and intimidations from different sections.

On numerous earlier occassions the media has had to suspend publication following threats.