Imphal, August 24 2010: Publication of Newspapers in Churachandpur district suspended from today as scribes of the district were on cease-work strike following KNF(MC) failed to offer apology demanded by the Manipur Hill Journalists' Union (MHJU) with regard to threat posed on a reporter of the local vernacular, Lamka Post.

The MHJU demands apology from the outfit maintaining cease fire with the government under Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement which was expired at 2 pm of today.

Meanwhile, the MHJU today submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister seeking his intervention to the matter as the outfit is enjoying suspension of operation under agreed ground rule with the government.

They requested the Chief Minister for immediate action against a SoO signatory group and functionaries of Churachandpur Anganwadi Mahila Organisation (CAMO) and ICDS's CDPO who are hand in gloves for threatening the fourth estate of the nation.

In the memorandum, they informed that PK Tombing, a reporter of The Lamka Post daily had been receiving threats from one Lhunjang, an incumbent Finance Secretary of the KNF (MC), both verbally and textually-through a mobile SMSs regarding the publication of a news item exposing the misappropriation of 6478.2 quintals of rice meant for Hot Cook Meal under Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) on July 29 edition of The Lamka Post.

On August 19 Lhunjang summoned Tombing and demanded that a corrigendum should be published for the said news report on the ground that it was too vivid.

As the news report was based on the program organized by the Churachandpur Anganwadi Mahila Organisation (CAMO) at a public platform on July 28 at YPA Hall, New Lamka and was personally attended by the said four CDPOs, Tombing refused to do so.

However, on August 20 at 8.22 pm , Tombing received another text message from mobile phone number 9615230099 threatening that incase the newspaper he works fails to publish the corrigendum as demanded, any untoward incident on him will not be held responsible by the outfit.

On the August 23, Tombing accidentally met Lhunjang at the office premises of DC, Churachandpur and tried to reason with him.

However, Lhunjang insisted on a corrigendum and was beyond reasoning.

Not long after they parted, at exactly 2.57 pm, PK Tombing received another text message from Lhunjang's mobile phone number 9612042180 that he was forgiven for the day, but there will be no more warning from the next day.

The MHJU in this regard held an emergency general body meeting on August 23 and gave time till 2pm of today for the KNF(MC) to withdraw their threat and tender an apology.

Observing that it is disheartening the involvement of an armed group that is seemingly out of their interest as the news item published by the newspaper pertains to the activities of CAMO and some CDPOs, the MHJU drew the attention of the Chief Minister and SoO's JMG in particular alleging that the armed group had acted at the behest of those government employees who could be implicated as a result of the publication of the said news item.

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