'No Manipur' in Manipur compels scribes to turn back
AMWJU, EGM to black out all Govt news
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 20 2025:
A team of journalists who went to cover the Shirui Lily Festival's opening ceremony in Ukhrul was forced to abandon their assignment after security forces at Gwaltabi checkpoint demanded they conceal the word "Manipur" of the State Transport Department inscription on their vehicle.
A police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that there is a strict instruction from the higher authority to not allow any buses with "Manipur State Transport" markings to travel along the route.
In response to the incident, the All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU) and the Editors' Guild Manipur (EGM) held an emergency meeting and resolved to boycott news and information related to the Manipur Government and State and Central forces operating in the State.
Today, a Manipur State Transport bus carrying around 20 journalists and some staff of DIPR assigned to cover the Shirui Lily Festival departed for Ukhrul from near the DIPR office at Keishampat around 6.30 am.
The bus briefly stopped at the Inter-State Bus Terminal (ISBT) before heading towards Ukhrul, passing through a check point manned by personnel of the 4th Mahar Regiment personnel at Chadong Junction on National Highway 202.From Chadong Junction, the journalists went through a verification at Yaingangpokpi police station.
As the journalists proceeded towards Ukhrul from Yaingangpokpi, the bus was stopped again by the 4th Mahar Regiment personnel at the Gwaltabi checkpoint, about 25 kms from Imphal, who insisted that any vehicle with "Manipur" written on it would not be allowed to pass.
The journalists, incensed with the directive of the security personnel returned to Imphal by hiring a passenger vehicle without covering the event.
The bus, on the other hand, proceeded to Ukhrul after covering the "Manipur State Transport" inscription with spray paint, and reached the festival venue.
The DIPR staff also reached the festival venue in a different vehicle.
A team of journalists visited ISBT and observed that festival participants were being transported to Ukhrul in private vehicles.
When asked if the private vehicles were used due to lack of MST buses, the staff there mentioned that there was an instruction to not allow MST buses on the route.
Taking strong exception to the incident, the All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU) and the Editors' Guild Manipur (EGM) have decided to boycott news and information related to the Manipur Government, including State and Central forces operating in the State.
In a joint press release, AMWJU and EGM said that a team of journalists, who were travelling to Ukhrul in a Government vehicle issued to the Directorate of Information and Public Relation was asked to conceal the "Manipur" of the State Transport Department inscription on the vehicle, prompting them to abandon their assignment and return to Imphal.
A joint meeting of AMWJU and EGM was held today at Manipur Press Club, Imphal against the act of the security personnel and passed at least eight resolutions and submitted the same to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla.
The first resolution agreed to launch a pendown strike by the journalist fraternity tomorrow (May 21), suspending all normal duties.
If an amicable solution isn't reached, the strike may be extended, said the resolution.
The second resolution decided to boycott all Manipur Government related news and information, including State and Central forces in the State.
AMWJU and EGM stated that the Gwaltabi checkpoint incident amounts to interfering with journalists' professional duties and raises serious concerns about press freedom, public safety, writ of the State Government within its jurisdiction and the prevailing security environment in the region.
Demanding an inquiry into the harassment of media personnel enroute to Ukhrul for the Shirui Lily Festival, the AMWJU and EGM urged the Governor to penalize the Government officials and personnel in charge of the area where the incident occurred.
They also urged the Governor to advise the DIPR to conduct proper consultations with stakeholders concerned to prevent such incidents in future.
AMWJU and EGM will hold an emergency general body meeting at 11 am tomorrow at Manipur Press Club to discuss the issues arising out of the incident.
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