IMPHAL: Journalists across Manipur have called for a two-day strike in protest against the assault and abduction of local cable news reporter.
Organised by the All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) and Editors’ Guild, Manipur (EGM), the strike aims to demand swift action, including the arrest of those responsible for the attack on Kumar Nongthombam.
The joint statement issued by AMWJU and EGM on Sunday unequivocally condemned the brutal assault, describing it as an attack on press freedom and democracy.
The organisations issued a fervent plea for the immediate apprehension of the perpetrators, highlighting the imperative of ensuring the safety and security of journalists operating in Manipur.
The harrowing incident unfolded in the late hours of February 23 when Nongthombam, a reporter of a local cable network based in Kakching, was attacked in his rented accommodation in Wangkhei, Imphal East district.
According to the joint statement, Nongthombam was forcibly abducted by the armed assailants subsequent to the physical assault.
Reportedly, the assailants callously disregarded Nongthombam’s press credentials, callously discarding them in a fire before blindfolding and subjecting him to further physical abuse as they transported him to the DM University campus.
Eventually, he was released in the early hours of February 24 and subsequently admitted to Raj Medicity for urgent medical attention.
Speaking to a local daily, the injured journalist recounted the terrifying ordeal, detailing how unidentified armed miscreants barged into his room, assaulted him without provocation, and callously disregarded his journalistic credentials.
In a scathing denouncement of the attack, AMWJU and EGM highlighted that while journalists routinely encounter risks in the line of duty, Nongthombam’s ordeal transcended the realm of professional hazards, constituting a grievous violation of fundamental rights.
At of the time of this report, no individual or group has claimed responsibility for the assault. However, the police have initiated an investigation into the incident, with hopes of swiftly bringing the perpetrators to justice.
