Journalists in Manipur staged a sit-in at Keishampat, Imphal, on Friday condemning the brutal assault on senior journalist Khoirom Loyalakpa and demanding immediate action against those responsible for the attack.
Members of the All Manipur Working Journalists’ union (AMWJU) and the Editors’ Guild of Manipur (EGM), along with media persons from various organisations, took part in the protest, holding placards and raising slogans seeking justice and a secure working environment for journalists in the state.
The protesters expressed strong resentment over what they described as repeated attacks and intimidation targeting media professionals in Manipur.
Following the protest, the journalists’ bodies submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister highlighting the February 18 attack on Khoirom Loyalakpa, Editor of Naharolgi Thoudang. According to the memorandum, the editor was shot at and severely beaten by unidentified assailants while travelling in his car.
He sustained grievous injuries and is currently undergoing treatment at the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS), Imphal.
The memorandum stated that the assault marks yet another instance of violence against a working journalist in the state. It pointed out that Loyalakpa and other media practitioners had earlier faced threats and intimidation, which not only endanger individual lives but also undermine freedom of expression and democratic principles.
The journalists recalled that previous representations had been made to the Director General of Police seeking adequate security measures for media persons. However, they observed that despite such appeals, effective steps have not been put in place, leading to a continued atmosphere of insecurity.
In the memorandum, the signatories urged the government to ensure immediate registration of an FIR in a time-bound manner and to conduct a swift and transparent investigation to identify and prosecute those involved in the attack.
They also called for concrete protection measures, including safety protocols and threat assessment mechanisms for journalists working across Manipur, and sought periodic engagement between the government and journalists’ associations to address security concerns.
Speakers at the sit-in protest stressed that journalists must be allowed to carry out their professional duties without fear of violence, retaliation or reprisal. They said that repeated targeting of media personnel weakens public confidence and fosters an environment of fear and self-censorship.
The memorandum appealed to the leadership of the state to uphold the right to life, liberty and freedom of the press, and to ensure justice for the injured editor while safeguarding the interests and safety of all media professionals in Manipur.