IMPHAL, Dec 30 � No newspapers in Manipur hit the stands on Wednesday as Editors and journalists launched a ceasework strike in protest against the arrest of the editor of a local vernacular daily.
Information Service Television or ISTV, a popular local TV news channel also suspended their daily news programs since as part of the ongoing protest.
Ahongsangbam Mobi Singh (55), Editor of Sanaleibak was arrested near his office on Tuesday at Tiddim service station, Keishampat here around 9. 30 am
Superintendent of police (SP), Imphal West in a press release charged that Mobi was an activist of the banned outfit Kangleipak Communist Party (Tabungba group). Police also claimed to have seized some items from his possession besides registering a case at Imphal Police station under section 17/20 UA (P) Act.
But two rounds of emergency general body meeting of All Manipur Working Journalists� Union (AMWJU), an apex body of journalists community in Manipur held here have rejected the Police charges.
Terming the charges as �extreme injustice�, AMWJU president Khogendra Khomdram in a representation to the Chief Minister on Thursday said the charges were �fabricated�.
Urging Chief Minister�s intervention and demanding unconditional release of the Editor from police custody, it informed that Mobi being the vice-president and spokesman of the union,authorised to settle a number of stand-offs between the media and militants in Manipur following government�s failure to provide a secure environment for media personnel and property in the state.
It said AMWJU had been compelled to talk to undergrounbd cahres under a broad policy at any given opportunity in connection with frequent pressure over the publication of their statements (propaganda). "Under this policy AMWJU authorised A Mobi who as spokesperson will communicate with different organisation s including those banned to convince them from forcing the media from publishing unwanted propaganda material", the representation said.
�We believe the media in Manipur is being targeted by the state police for its apparent role in exposing the alleged fake encounter at BT road on 23 July 2009... �, it added. Threat to media, both from state-and non-state were also apprised during the recent Home minister�s visit.
Six editors of local dailies were once kept hostage by a particular Kangleipak Communist Party group. Manipur newspapers had also failed to hit the stands on October 18 and 27 last to protest militant diktats on what to print and what not to.
