In another attack on media houses, suspected KCP (MC) militants who came in a Maruti car hurled a hand grenade at the office of The Sangai Express, local daily at Imphal"™s Sega road, Friday night.
This was the second attack against media houses within a span of one month. The attack was launched amidst tight police security in and around media houses at Imphal after the January 2 bomb threat to Naharolgi Thoudang, a language daily.
In protest against the attacks, scribes in Manipur under the banner of All Manipur Working Journalists"™ Union (AMWJU) held a protest rally in Imphal Saturday. Placards with slogans -"Don"™t interfere with media"™s freedom of expression, Stop targeting media, and Allow media to work freely," etc. were displayed in the rally
AMWJU president A Mobi alleged that media houses were threatened by some militant groups for refusing to entertain their press notes which were not"worthy of being a news item".
"They (militants) even press the media to publish extortion note to someone. In such condition, how can media work freely in the interest of the people," he asked.
"This is not a fair one. This is against the ethics of the media. They should not interfere with the freedom of the media," he added.
A media team led by AMWJU president met chief minister, O Ibobi Singh at his office chamber after the rally and apprised him of the problems being faced by media in carrying out their duty freely.
In the meeting, Ibobi assured that necessary steps would be taken up to ensure full proof security to the media persons. An assurance to tighten up security in and around media houses was also given, Mobi said after the meeting.