IMPHAL, May 22: The Indian Journalists Union (IJU) has strongly condemned what it described as an “unacceptable and alarming” act of harassment against journalists by security personnel in Manipur. The incident reportedly took place on May 20 at the Gwaltabi checkpoint in Imphal East district, involving the 4th Mahar Regiment.
A team of accredited journalists traveling in a Manipur State Transport (MST) bus arranged by the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) was allegedly stopped and instructed by security personnel to conceal the “Manipur State Transport” signage on their vehicle. In protest, the journalists called off their assignment to cover the Shirui Lily Festival in Ukhrul and returned to Imphal.
IJU President Geetartha Pathak criticized the act, calling it “a blatant attempt to muzzle the press and undermine the democratic fabric of our nation.” He added, “Forcing journalists to hide the name of their own state while performing their duties is not only an affront to press freedom but also a dangerous precedent that questions the sovereignty of Manipur within India.”
The union described the incident as a direct assault on press freedom, highlighting its wider implications for media independence and public access to information. Sabina Inderjit, IJU Secretary-General and Vice President of the International Federation of Journalists, condemned the harassment as part of a disturbing pattern of intimidation against media professionals in the region. She urged security forces to respect journalists’ role in democracy and ensure unhindered reporting.
The incident has also drawn criticism from local bodies including the All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU), Editors’ Guild of Manipur (EGM), Ukhrul District Working Journalists’ Association (UDWJA), and Member of Parliament Angomcha Bimol Akoijam.
The IJU denounced the act as a direct assault on press freedom and warned of its serious implications for media independence. IJU Secretary-General Sabina Inderjit, who also serves as Vice President of the International Federation of Journalists, highlighted the pattern of intimidation against media professionals in the state and called on security forces to uphold journalistic rights.
