Imphal: All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) and Editors’ Guild Manipur (EGM) have announced to stop publication of government related news, condemning the harassment of journalists by central forces while traveling in a Manipur State Transport bus to cover the Shirui Lily Festival in Ukhrul district of Manipur, on Monday.
The bus was stopped by jawans of the MAHAR Regiment and the BSF at Gwaltabi in Imphal East district. The BSF jawans initially asked them to cover the MST signage with paper. Later, MAHAR Regiment troops prohibited further movement.
The inaugural function was scheduled to begin at 11 am. The journalists were detained until around 10 am. The journalists had to return to Imphal using a private vehicle. The journalist bodies held an emergency meeting at the Manipur Press Club, here. They announced an immediate boycott of all state government-related news, including coverage of state and central security forces operating in Manipur. They decided to launch a pen-down strike on Wednesday. “The strike will be extended if no satisfactory resolution is reached,” they warned.
The media bodies also demanded penal action against government officials responsible for festival logistics, citing negligence and dereliction of duty. The journalists staged a protest rally from the Press Club at Majorkhul to Raj Bhavan and submitted a memorandum to the governor’s secretary.
Manipur Tourism director Pooja Elangbam called the Gwaltabi incident “very unfortunate” and said the matter would be escalated. “The Shirui Lily Festival is meant to send a message of harmony and unity in diversity. What has happened today contradicts that spirit,” she said.
