AMWJU,EGM decry mob threat to scribes
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, June 27 2023:
All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU) and Editors' Guild Manipur (EGM) strongly condemned the mob violence against five journalists, who went to Henjang village near Leimakhong military garrison under the protection of Indian Army on Tuesday.
In a joint statement, the two bodies said that five journalists went to cover the dismantling of bunkers in the village under the protection of a column of Kumaon Regiment led by a Colonel and the village chief Kammang Lhouvum.
Upon request of the village chief, the journalists along with the army personnel also went to cover a public meeting held in the village community hall.
As they were preparing for coverage, several village youths rounded them up, threatened them with use of expletives and snatched cameras in a bid to delete the footages.
Sensing trouble, the Colonel whisked the journalists into his vehicle, to which the villagers surrounded the vehicle while blocking the exit road.
The army personnel shielded the journalists and forced their way out of the mob, the joint statement said.
Decrying the mob violence against journalists, the statement said that the media community is already facing atrocities from security forces and they never expected such treatment during Tuesday's visit.
Terming the incident as a direct threat to the freedom of expression, AMWJU and EGM appealed to all concerned to refrain from such acts in future.