Manipur media to suspend May 21 publication in protest against Army harassment

The journalist fraternity in Manipur staged a protest rally in Imphal on Monday, strongly condemning the alleged obstruction by central security forces that forced a media team to abandon coverage of the Shirui Lily Festival in Ukhrul district. They also announced suspension of the publication on May 21, boycotting government programme.
 

The protest was sparked by an incident earlier in the day, when a media team travelling in a government-issued bus marked “Manipur State Transport” was reportedly stopped at Gwaltabi checkpoint in Imphal East, roughly 25 km from the capital. The central forces, identified as personnel from the 4th Mahar Regiment, allegedly instructed the journalists to conceal the state branding on the vehicle before proceeding further.
 

The team, enroute to cover the festival’s inaugural function organised by the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), expressed concern over the demand to mask a government name while operating within the state. Citing the incident as undue interference, the journalists returned to Imphal, abandoning their official assignment.
 

In response, members of the All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) and the Editors Guild of Manipur (EGM) held an emergency meeting and launched a protest rally from the Manipur Press Club to Raj Bhavan. Despite being briefly stopped by state security personnel at Kangla, the protesters reached the Raj Bhavan and submitted a memorandum to the Governor.
 

Speaking to the media, EGM secretary general Yumnam Rupachandra termed the incident “the first of its kind in Manipur’s media history” and condemned what he called harassment and obstruction of the press. “This is a direct affront to the freedom of the press,” he said.
 

The joint emergency meeting of AMWJU and EGM resolved to launch a pen-down strike on May 21 and suspend all journalistic duties. Additionally, the fraternity will boycott all Manipur government-related news, including information on central and state forces operating in the region, until their demands are met.
 

The journalists are calling for an official inquiry into the incident, punishment for officials responsible for organising the festival, and action against those personnel who obstructed the media. Rupachandra warned that protests would intensify if the government fails to address the issue promptly.
 

The media team had departed from the DIPR office in Imphal around 6:30 AM and had cleared three routine checkpoints before being stopped at Gwaltabi. The instruction to obscure the “Manipur State Transport” signage on their vehicle raised questions and was seen by the journalists as an arbitrary and unjustified order.
 

The inaugural ceremony of the Shirui Lily Festival was to be attended by the Governor of Manipur.