Manipur: Journalists protest in Imphal over govt ‘silence’ on Gwaltabi incident
The sit-in protest was jointly organised by the All Manipur Working Journalists Union and the Editors Guild Manipur
Senior Manipur journalists representing various media unions staged a demonstration in state capital Imphal on Monday to protest the “silence” of the government over the Gwaltabi incident, in which security personnel had allegedly removed the state’s name from a bus carrying scribes.
The sit-in protest was jointly organised by the All Manipur Working Journalists Union (AMWJU) and the Editors Guild Manipur (EGM).
The incident occurred at Gwaltabi in Imphal East district in May, as journalists were being ferried in a government bus to cover the ‘Shirui Lily’ festival.
Holding placards and raising slogans, media persons demonstrated at Keisampat Leimajam Leikai in Imphal in the morning.
EGM president Khogendro Khomdram said, "The committee formed to investigate the 20 May incident has already submitted its report to the governor. However, we are yet to see any development over it, even after 40 days. We demand action by the state government."
Following widespread criticism, the Manipur government had constituted a two-member inquiry committee "to examine the facts and circumstances" surrounding the incident.