Scribes return to work; Mobi released on bail
says his arrest is a sign of danger for media persons
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, January 05 2011: Scribes resumed work on Wednesday six days after a continuous ceasework strike even as Editor of Sanaleibak daily Ahongshangbam Mobi, who is also vice-president cum spokesperson of the All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU) was released on bail today.

Even though scribes resumed their duties today they will go ahead with their protests which includes boycott of, ministers and MLAs of Congress and CPI who are the partners of the SPF government, in the form of not covering functions and events they were taking part in and not to entertain press releases and statements of these two parties.

The protests include not to entertain police statements including their achievements like displays of siezed arms till the demand of the AMWJU is fulfilled by the government, said a statement of the AMWJU's president Khogendro Khomdram.

On the other hand, A Mobi was produced in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal West today on the expiry of his eight day remand period.

The court granted him bail rejecting the police prayer for further remand into their custody.

Mobi was arrested on December 29 and on the same day he was produced in the court he was remanded to eight days custody.

While producing Mobi in the court, the IO of the case, SDPO, Modhunimai through an assistant public prosecutor prayed the court for further remand of Mobi.

Giving his arguments on the prayer, the assistant public prosecutor said that police arrested him (Mobi) based on the investigation into a case related with a monetary demand served by KCP (Tabungba) group to Thoubal Gas, Singjamei Branch.

He claimed that police has recording of talks between A Mobi and members of the KCP (Tabungba) group regarding the monetary demand.

He was not arrested as an editor of a newspaper or vice president or spokesperson of AMWJU, the assistant public prosecutor clarified.

Scribes in a rally on January 4 demanding A Mobi's unconditional release

Mobi's counsel, Irengbam Boby giving his argument on the charge levelled against Mobi said that it was a baseless charge.

He said the police has made a contradicting statement in the court because they had not mentioned any link with the Gas Agency at the time of arrest.

Mobi who is also the vice-president cum spokesperson of AMWJU besides being Editor of Sanaleibak daily is a man of high reputation.

Such a highly reputed person will never indulge in collection of money for a faction of an underground group.

It is an unbelievable charge, the counsel argued.

He also said that Mobi is a diabetic and suffering from hypertension and it will not be good for his health to remand into judicial custody.

After hearing both counsels, the judge gave Mobi an opportunity to express his opinion.

Mobi rejected all charges levelled against him by the police saying that they were baseless.

He said, while he was in police custody, he was forced to sign papers admitting the charges levelled against him.

Apart from this, he was subject to many kinds of harassments and that even food was not provided to him.

He further said that scribes in the state are working under pressure from both government and UG groups and that the police had done nothing to protect the scribes.

The judge granted bail to Mobi asking him to appear in the court every week and whenever he was summoned.

The CJM, Imphal West asked him to furnish personal and surety bonds of ' 50,000 each as condition for the bail.

After his release, Mobi talking to some reporters said that the police action against him is a sign of difficulties ahead of the scribe fraternity of the state.

He will abide by the decisions taken by AMWJU in this regard, he added.

It is pertinent to mention that during the arrest of Mobi scribes had staged a sit-in-protest at Manipur Press Club and on January 4, a protest rally was taken out from Press Club to Imphal Raj Bhavan demanding the unconditional release of A Mobi.

Four representatives of AMWJU had called on Manipur Governor, Gurbachan Jagat and urged his intervention for the unconditional release of AMWJU's vice president and also to ensure a secure environment for the media in Manipur.

In the memorandum, scribes stated that the media in Manipur is being targeted by the state police for its role in exposing the alleged fake encounter at BT Road on July 23, 2009 which is under CBI investigation and which involved several police officers and for the recent memorandum submitted to the Union Home Minister, P Chidambaram urging him to take action on murder of Imphal Free Press journalist K Rishikanta.