Ensure security of media persons: PCI
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 13 2017: The Press Council oflndiahas advised the State Government to designate a police officer not less than the rank of SP to receive and act on any complaints of threat or harassment of media persons -under a quick response mechanism or on Suo-motu.

This was stated by PCI in a decision order disposing the Suo-motu case which it had taken up with regard to the bomb threat on the secretary general of Editors Guild, Manipur, Yumnam Rupachandra and the media in Manipur in general, in the month of December 2015 .

The Suo-motu case was taken up by PCI and inquiry' * committee set up to pursue the case.

The State Government represented by Advocate Naresh Kumar presented the response of the State Government sub-mitted by Joint Secretary (Home) Rehanuddin Choudhary at the Inquiry Committee hearing.

Secretary General of EGM deposed before the Inquiry r committee from the journalists' side.

The inquiry committee which held its last hearing on July 13, this year, at New Delhi also recommended the PCI to advise the media fraternity to bring its security concern immediately to the law enforcement agencies.

The disposal of the case came following the State Government claims that the police have identified the person behind planting the bomb and that investigations were on and efforts to nab the culprit were underway.

The State Government also placed before the committee that the Government has issued advisory for safety of media houses and the journalists on the direction of the PCI.

On the request for the special task force for protection of media persons, the State Government submitted that Manipur State Police already has good strength of commandos who are like special squad and actively deployed in counter insurgency operation in Manipur and that they would be in better position to take care of security concerns of the journalists.

The State Government also submitted that concerned SP's were carrying out adequate security measures by the way of frequent patrol- ling around the area where the offices of local dailies are located.

It also said that security personnel were deployed in strategic locations, round the clock, to prevent any untoward incidents.

The State Government also said that since the December 2015 incident of bomb planting, a case has been registered and frequent patrolling, frisking and checking by commandos and teams of Singjamei police station led by its Officer in Charge were being carried out around the adjoining areas of residence of Yumnam Rupachandra who is also the Editor in Chief of Impact TV.

The order dated September 21, 2017, was signed by Chandramauli Kumar Prasad, Chairman of PCI.

Copies of the order were also given to Chief Secretary of Manipur, The Secretary (Home) and DGP ofManipur Police.

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