IJU Condemns Security Forces Assault on 3 Manipur Journos

New Delhi, 23 May 2023: The Indian Journalists Union (IJU) joins its affiliate, the All Manipur Working Journalists Union (AMWJU) in condemning the assault on three journalists by security forces in Manipur. Security personnel of the Jat regiment and other Central forces physically assaulted the journalists covering the resurgence of violence at New Checkon, Imphal on Monday. The Union demanded immediate suspension of the security persons involved. 

The incident unfolded when the three journalists were capturing a footage of a burning building from an unfinished structure near Brighter Academy School, New Checkon, Imphal. The three who were assaulted are Soram Inaoba, Nongthombam Johnson and Brahmacharimayum Dayananda. No major injuries, however, were reported. 

As per report the three media persons along with few other journalists were taking photographs, and videos of the arson from the said structure when personnel of the Jat Regiment, who were spread out below the building, accused the media persons of pelting stones at the UAV reportedly operated by the Security Forces. According to the three media persons, they were only waving away the drone as it had gotten too close to them. 

The AMWJU, Editors’ Guild Manipur (EGM) and Manipur Hill Journalists Union (MJHU) condemned the assault and demanded suspension of the security persons involved within 48 hours and warned that media houses in Manipur will boycott all press releases, handouts and press conferences related to the Central paramilitary forces and Armed forces operating in the State if the demand was not fulfilled. Soon after, the security forces apologised to the journalists and assured that such incident will not recur. 

In a statement, IJU President and former member of Press Council of India Geetartha Pathak and Secretary General and Vice President of International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) Sabina Inderjit condemned the assault on the journalists and urged the security forces not to target journalists and allow them to do their duty unhindered and respect freedom of media.