IMPHAL, February 13: The All Manipur Working Journatlists`™ Union (AMWJU), has today resolved to boycott all Assam Rifles related news until fitting disciplinary action is initiated against the colonel and his escort party who harangued a media team at Moreh.
An emergency meeting of the Standing Committee of the AMWJU, was convened today with regards to the horrendous assault on the Bureau Chief of Impact TV, Noren Ningombam and his news camera person, K Bipin Sharma by personnel of the 9th Assam Rifles led by the CO, one Col, Anandi Antare, at the international border town of Moreh on February 12 while they were covering an incident of mob attack on the office of the SDPO, Moreh.
The meeting also vehemently condemned the incident unanimously.
Further, a memorandum, highlighting the latest incident of assault on the press as well as the general high handedness of the Assam Rifles posted along the Imphal-Moreh section on the NH-2, was submitted to the visiting Union Home Minister.
A copy of the memorandum was also submitted to the Chief Minister of Manipur, IGAR(S), Press Council of India and the Indian Journalists Union, New Delhi.
The memorandum, apprised the Union Home Minister with regards to the hazardous of working environment of the journalist in the conflict affected state of Manipur.
It said that even as the situation is steadily improving, occurrence of high handedness of the paramilitary forces, particularly the Assam Rifles which is under the Ministry of Home Affairs, has became an immediate concern of late and drew the urgent attention of the Union Minister.
It further said that besides the assault on journalists, the Assam Rifles posted along the Imphal-Moreh section of Asian Highway 2 has been causing a lot of hardship to travellers.
The AR personnel on various occasions have detained journalists on duty for long hours even after identifying them as bona fide journalists.
It further drew the attention of the Union Home Minister to initiate tangible proactive action to curb the atrocious act of the paramilitary forces as well as to initiate strict disciplinary action on the CO and his personnel who were involved in the direct assault on the journalist on February 12 at Moreh.
Meanwhile, the Editors`™ Guild Manipur also convened an emergency meeting with regards to the assault on journalists at Moreh.