Imphal, January 19: Seven policemen including an SI were today suspended for alleged assault on mediapersons.

S Dinokumar IPS, Sr SP Imphal West issued an order suspending SI W Amumacha Singh of Smgjamei PS, Imphal West district for his grave misconduct.

The Commandant of 3rd India Reserve Battalion issued an order suspending six riflemen.

The six are S Koireng Singh Rfn no 132001274, Ch Ojit Singh Rfn no 132001277, T Basanta Singh, Rfn no 132001279, Md Abdul Gani Rfn no 132001298, M Ronelkumar Singh Rfn no 132001456 and Pamei Dibongpou R Naga Rfn no 132001546.During the period of suspension their headquarters will be at their respective headquarters.

The President of AMWJU W Shamjai today submitted a memorandum to the DGP informing him that, on the night of January 16, Aribam Premkumar, a reporter if the SEEN TV was assaulted by two personnel of the 2nd IRB detailed at Nagampal (Uripok) at around 8.00 pm.

Despite identifying himself as reporter by flashing his press identity card, the personnel had not only booted but also threatened him to shoot.

Premkumar got treated for the injuries suffered and he is still having breathing troubles.

That, on the night of January 18, Hemantakumar Ningomba, Assistant Editor of the Matamgi Yakairol was severely assaulted by six/seven personnel of the 3rd IRB near Moirangkhom bazar while the journalist was returning home from duty at 9.30 pm.

The reporter showed his press identity card and also curfew passes issued by the District Magistrates.

Despite this, the inebriated IRB personnel assaulted the journalist.

He was also dragged and threatened to be shot.

As a result, the journalist suffered fractured injuries at the nose and he is now under intensive medical care.

That, earlier this same group of IRB (3rd) personnel also detained, harassed and assaulted.

Phurailatpam Ramannda Sharma, the Editor of the Sapaleibak, daily paper in between Thumbuthong Amanba and Moirangkhom Kabui Khul at around 9.20 p.m.while he was coming to his office from an assignment.

The editor flashed his press identity card along with the curfew passes issued by District Magistrates of both Imphal East and Imphal West.

But the drunken personnel did not honour the press identity card and the curfew pass.

The Editor was rescued by a police team sent by a senior police officer.

The Editor was also harassed and abused by IRB personnel at Sanjenthong.

That, not only the above ugly incident most of the reporters/journalists on duty have been experiencing harassment and abuse at the hands of personnel of the state security forces.

In all these cases the press identity card and the curfew pass have been treated with contempt by the personnel as if these mean nothing to them.

Hence, to avoid such unwanted incidents in future, the AMWJU demanded for prompt and necessary action that the IRB personnel in the assault of the two journalists be dismissed from service within 15 days.

An assurance by the DGP to the effect that any personnel involved in harassment and assault of journalists will be dismissed from service.

In future the prohibitory orders under sub-section 2 of CrPC Section 144 to be issued by District Magistrates should necessarily mention that the orders will not be applied to media persons.

AMWJU President , W Shamjai said the union's executive committee meeting strongly condemned the beating up of the media personnel by securitymen who were reportedly drunk.

He said this was not the first time media personnel had been assaulted by armed securitymen.

To avoid such unwanted things in future, the authorities should dismiss the security personnel who assaulted the reporters.

Shamjai said the AMWJU had given 15 days time to the authorities to dismiss the culprits and if this was not done, the union would launch a series of agitation.

The All Manipur Students' Union, JAC of AMTUC and AMGEO, Langol Ningtnou Laithung Chingjin Apunba Nupi Lup and many other organizations condemned the high handedness of the RB personnel who were in a drunken state and assaulted all who came.

They demanded proper legal action against all involved in the incident and demanded that the government should ensure non repetition of such unfortunate incident.

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