The All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) and Editors’ Guild Manipur (EGM) on Saturday condemned the ostensible behaviours and abusive acts continuously meted out towards journalists of the state by Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel.
AMWJU general secretary Athokpam Jiten from Koirou, Thongju and Games and Sports Secretary Moirangthem Khagemba Meetei from Kyamgei Maning Leikai were allegedly assaulted by a RAF team near Singjamei Police Station at Kakwa on Friday around 10:15 pm when they were returning home from work, stated AMWJU and EGM in a joint release.
They were stopped by a RAF personnel, telling that they could not pass the route; however, at the next moment another personnel pushed them harshly hurling abusive languages and threatening them even though they had identified themselves as journalists, it said. ‘It doesn’t matter if you are Press, do you want to get hurt or have your vehicles damaged?’ asked the RAF personnel, it mentioned.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, video journalist of TOM TV, Ibungo Laishram, also faced a similar encounter with the same RAF team when he was returning home around 10:30 pm, it added. It also mentioned that a RAF team physically assaulted a journalist L Kanta earlier on May 29.
The two media bodies strongly condemned the incidents and urged the authorities concerned to take necessary actions against the RAF personnel involved, else warned that they will launch agitations, it said.
It further appealed to the public not to create obstructions to the media persons returning home late at night after work.
