Imphal, Oct 29 : Manipur journalists staged a rally in Imphal on Thursday to denounce militant threats that forced media houses to suspend publication a day earlier despite CM Okram Ibobi Singh's security assurances.
Armed militants visited offices of some local dailies and threatened editors against publishing statements of a rival, breakaway group on Tuesday evening.
The local newspapers had published a statement of the breakaway group claiming responsibility for killing a man sometime back.
Under All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU)'s banner, the scribes staged the rally and marched to the CM's office carrying placards reading "respect freedom of press" and "might is right in animal planet". They submitted a memorandum to Ibobi and demonstrated at Imphal's Keishampat junction.
The journalists asked Okram, who also holds the home portfolio, to ensure security for media offices and "create an environment where mediapersons could function without any disturbance and interference".
AMWJU spokesperson, A Mobi, said the CM assured security for the journalists. "We'll soon convene a meeting to decide whether to continue our agitation," he said.
Manipur minister Y Erabot; assembly deputy speaker, Th Lokeshwar, and a number of civil society groups joined the scribes in solidarity.
Around 10 journalists, including editors, have been killed in the state in the last few years. Though none of the perpetrators have been booked so far, the CBI is investigating a young Imphal-based journalist's 2008 killing.
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