HL journalist's family harassed for 'reporting the fact'
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal / Ukhrul, July 29 2013: In what could be described as taking the law into one's own hand, the family members of a journalist are being harassed by an illegal hunter after the journalist published a news report about the killing of a Himalayan Griffon vulture in Hueiyen Lanpao last year.

Following the news report the hunter in question had been penalized under Wild Life (Protection) Act.

Ukhrul District Journalists' Union (UDJU) alleged that the elder brother of the journalist was harassed once again by the hunter who (hunter) was punished for his illegal act.

"At around 10:30 am on Monday, Ngaraipam Shimray physically harassed Hongprao Shimray, the elder brother of the journalist, Pamreiso Shimray for his report on the Imphal-based English daily Hueiyen Lanpao published under the caption, "Rare Birds sighted in Kamjong range, begin to fall prey to locals" on its December 15, 2012 edition," the UDJU said.

The pic of the Himalayan Griffon Vulture which was killed by the hunter, based on which the report was published

According to the UDJU, the story was reported following the killing of Himalayan Griffon vulture by Ngaraipam Shimray.

Himalayan Griffon vulture is considered an endangered bird under the Wild Life (Protection) Act.

Following the report in Hueiyen Lanpao, Wild Life Officials at Ukhrul summoned Ngaraipam but exempted from booking under the Act for reason obvious, the journalists body stated.

"However, since then the illegal hunter Ngaraipam continues to harass the Journalist's family.

The journalist's two brothers and a widowed sister-in-law who are staying at Ningthi village have been bearing the brunt of the hunter's vengeance of verbal abuse," it further alleged.

Unable to bear the threat the journalist's family informed the Ukhrul Superintendent of police today, it added.

Meanwhile, Ukhrul District Journalists' Association (UDJA) has called for an emergency meeting on Tuesday to discuss the issue of continued harassment to the journalist's family for 'reporting the fact'.

UDJA has also appealed to the district police to immediately book the 'law breaker hunter' to prevent untoward incidents since there are possibilities of feuds between the two families.