Strongly condemning the recent assault of a journalist working in a local TV channel N Kumar and setting fire of his rented room on fire by unknown armed miscreants, All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU) and Editors' Guild Manipur (EGM) on Tuesday had asked for action against the miscreants.

According to a report, the rented room of the journalist at Wangkhei in Imphal East was engulfed in flames, reducing all belongings to ashes including his salary, laptop, camera and others on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday.

N Kumar was abducted by the assailants and later handed over to some journalists from an office within the DM University campus in Imphal West after subjecting him to a brutal assault.

He was admitted to Raj Medicity. Now he is discharged and is undergoing bed rest at his permanent residence at Huikap in Imphal East.

A joint release issued by AMWJU and EGM said many journalists on duty in Manipur have sustained injuries and assaults while covering the ongoing crisis.

However, the case of journalist Kumar is very different as it is not considered as a professional hazard, it said, adding if such cases repeat in the future the AMWJU and EGM might take up initiative to boycott the organisation involved in such crime against journalists.

In a display of solidarity, journalist Chitra Dhani spearheaded a fundraising initiative among colleagues, culminating in a generous donation of Rs 50,000 to support Kumar's recovery and resettlement efforts.

Emphasising the ongoing need for assistance, Chitra affirmed the commitment to continue fundraising endeavours to aid Kumar in rebuilding his life post-recovery.

ALSO READ: COCOMI condemns arson of office, DMU bomb blast