Scribes protest Govt silence, warn of intense stir
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 07 2025: Protesting against the silence of the government with regard to the Gwaltabi incident on May 20 wherein a team of journalists travelling to Ukhrul to cover the Shirui Lily Festival was asked by the Mahar Regiment deployed in Gwaltabi to conceal "Manipur" from a Manipur State Transport (MST) bus, and demanding the report of the enquiry committee to be made public; All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU) and Editors' Guild of Manipur (EGM) staged a sit-in protest at Keishampat Leimajam Leikai the community hall on Monday from 10 am till 1 pm .

Speaking on the sidelines of the protest, EGM secretary Yumnam Rupachandra pointed out that although the government had conducted an enquiry into the incident, they have not made it public the people involved in the same - and instead, maintaining silence.

Urging the government not to stay silent as preventing media from working is against democracy; he said that it does not matter whether there is a popular government or a President's Rule.

What should be done must be done, he remarked and demanded the punishment of all those involved in the incident.

Rupachandra continued that the media had suspended its boycott of government news after the latter informed that an enquiry committee was looking into the incident.

However, if the government continues to remain indifferent, the boycott could be resumed.

"It has been 45 days since the incident occurred and it is possible that AMWJU and EGM might adopt resolutions to intensify the protest if no positive response is given," he cautioned.

Chipping in, AMWJU president Asem Bhakta condemned the incident and also the non-disclosure of the enquiry report till date.

"As such, journalists have been wearing black ribbons to protest against the incident till date," he reasoned, while cautioning that the protests could intensify if no response is provided at the earliest.

According to EGM president Khogendro Khomdram: "The committee formed to investigate the May 20 incident has already submitted its report to the Governor.

However, we are yet to see any development over it, even after 40 days.

We demand action by the state government" .

Following widespread criticism, the Manipur government had constituted a two-member enquiry committee "to examine the facts and circumstances" surrounding the incident.

During the sit-in, journalists held placards inscribed with the slogans, "Journalism is not a crime", "Let us do our job", "Respect freedom of press", "Make Gwaltabi incident clear to the public", "Truth cannot remain hidden", and "Challenging the press is challenging democracy" .

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