Killing of scribe decried
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Hyderabad / Imphal, December 24 2012: The Indian Journalists Union (IJU) today expressed profound shock over the death of Manipuri journalist Thangjam Nanao Singh, allegedly in police firing, while covering the face-off between protesters and police over molestation of a local actress by a Naga militant.

In a statement issued here today, IJU President S N Sinha and Secretary General Devulpalli Amar expressed doubts over the official version and wondered how only the journalist wounded while not even a single alleged agitator injured in the police firing.

Thangjam Nanao Singh alias Dwijamani, a journalist with Prime Time news channel who also contributed pictures to Doordarshan, was killed in the police firing yesterday while taking pictures during the strike at Thangmeiband area in Imphal West district over the molestation incident.

"We have our own apprehensions.

We demand that a credible and independent inquiry should be held to find out the cause and circumstances leading to police firing and the resultant death of journalist.

We also demand that the police should immediately return the camera of Nanao Singh in which he had captured the happenings on the spot before he fell to the police bullet", they said, adding the snaps in the camera might lead to unravel the cause of the firing.

Sinha and Amar demanded that the family of Nanao Singh should be adequately compensated by the governments of India and Manipur.

They called upon the working journalists in the country to protest against lack of safety to journalists in the country.

On the other hand, many social organizations have come out strongly against the killing of journalists Thangjam Dwijamani in police firing.

Expressing deep sorrow, Manipur Baptist Convention Centre Church said that passing away of Thangjam Dwijamand alias Nanao, former correspondent Prime News, Gwahati and presently a stringer Camera man of DDK Impal, who was associated with the events of the Church was a great loss.

"He was a dedicated journalist, a very gentle and warm hearted person whom we all considered a brother and friend.

We are with his family in this moment of grief and pain and we pray that the Almighty God will grand them peace and comfort", Pastor of MBC Centre Church Rev L Simon Raomai said in a statement.

Electronic Media Forum Assam (EMFA) has condemned the killing of a Manipuri journalist in police firing yesterday and urged the State government to probe into the incident.

Woman Action for Development (WAD) has also expressed shock and condemnation over the killing of Thangjam Dwijamani and said that this is one of the most unfortunate and unlawful security measures ever taken up by the state police in taming the agitators.

"Bullet is not the means to bring any probable solution but to intensify the issue.

The failure to provide the security and safety spaces for media persons by the police while covering crisis is highly condemnable.

Such incidents highlight the violations of press rights and the death of democracy in the state.

Therefore Wad condemns such irresponsible attitude of the state forces and demand to take stern action against those involved and order the firing", Secretary of WAS Sobita Mangsatabam said in a statement.

WAD also appealed to the State Government to provide special attention to the bereaved family specially the wife and the two minor children of Dwijamani.

All Jiribam Working Journalists' Union (AJWJU), Kangleipak Students' Association (KSA), NH-53 Kanglei Ching-Ta Leimalup (NHKAL), etc have also come out strongly against killing of Dwijamani in police firing.

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