The Kohima Press Club (KPC) has expressed deep concern over the alleged harassment of journalists by security personnel at Gwaltabi, Manipur, on May 20. The incident occurred while the journalists were en route to cover the inaugural function of the Shirui Lily Festival in Ukhrul.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the KPC described the incident as shocking and reiterated that such actions undermine press freedom. “It is a matter of great concern that journalists are being harassed in the line of duty time and again in the region, which undermines the freedom of the Press,” the KPC stated.
Strongly condemning the incident, the KPC extended its solidarity to the Press fraternity in Manipur, particularly under the aegis of the All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) and the Editors’ Guild Manipur (EGM). “We stand in solidarity with the Press fraternity in our neighbouring state… We hope that their state government initiates a swift action into the matter,” it said.
The KPC also demanded that a safe and enabling environment be ensured for journalists in order to guarantee freedom of expression and access to information for all citizens.
Manipur journalists protest alleged army obstruction, demand action
A large contingent of journalists from various print and electronic media houses marched through Imphal on Tuesday in protest against an incident involving Indian Army personnel at the Gwaltabi checkpoint, about 25 km from the city. The protest, led jointly by the All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) and the Editors’ Guild Manipur (EGM), culminated at the gates of the Raj Bhavan.
The demonstration followed an incident where a media team of around 20 journalists and Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) officials was allegedly stopped by personnel from the 4th Mahar Regiment while heading to Ukhrul to cover a governor’s event. The security personnel reportedly demanded that the signage reading “Manipur State Transport” on their official vehicle be concealed before allowing them to proceed. The vehicle had been arranged by DIPR.
Terming the incident “an act of intimidation and an obstruction of press freedom,” the protesting journalists called for accountability. A delegation later met the Governor’s secretary and submitted a memorandum outlining their grievances.
The memorandum demanded penal action against the army personnel involved, disciplinary steps against responsible officers, and better coordination between DIPR and security forces to prevent such incidents in the future.
As part of their protest, AMWJU and EGM announced a Pen-Down Strike on May 22 and declared a complete boycott of government and security-related news coverage. They warned that the boycott could continue unless the matter is resolved satisfactorily.