Asem Bhakta
Special Correspondent North East
Imphal: Media houses across Manipur, including both print and electronic platforms, will Stop the Press on Wednesday, May 21st in protest against the alleged harassment of journalists by personnel of the 4th Mahar Regiment of the Indian Army at the Gwaltabi checkpoint in Imphal East. The decision was jointly announced by the All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) and the Editors’ Guild Manipur (EGM) following an emergency meeting held on Tuesday in Imphal.
The protest stems from an incident on the way to cover the inaugural event of the Shirui Lily Festival in Ukhrul. A media team of about 20 members, including DIPR officials, was travelling in a Manipur State Transport (MST) bus when they were stopped at Gwaltabi—despite having cleared earlier checkpoints. Army personnel allegedly demanded that the team erase the government vehicle’s MST signage, citing orders from “higher authorities.”
The journalists, despite showing valid credentials, were reportedly questioned and pressured. A heated argument followed. Ultimately, under duress and for safety reasons, the MST markings were removed. Frustrated and humiliated by what they described as illegal detention and mistreatment, the media team returned to Imphal, abandoning their assignment.
The incident has triggered outrage within the media community. The EGM and AMWJU, in a joint statement, condemned the army’s actions, calling it an attack on press freedom and state dignity. “If a bus belonging to a government department cannot move freely within its own state, what does it say about the rule of law?” the statement read.
The two organizations have submitted a memorandum to the Governor of Manipur under adverse weather conditions, demanding:
Immediate action against the personnel involved.
Disciplinary measures against officials responsible for the situation.
Accountability for the unsafe planning of the Shirui Lily Festival.
A directive to the DIPR to coordinate better with security forces to prevent such occurrences in the future.
As part of the protest, a one-day Pen-Down Strike has been announced for May 21, with the possibility of extension if the issue is not addressed. They’ve also declared a boycott of all government and security force-related news until proper accountability and assurances are given.
