IMPHAL, May 20: A media team headed to Ukhrul to cover the inauguration of the 5th Shirui Lily Festival was forced to turn back after their state transport bus was stopped by security personnel who demanded the removal of the “Manipur State Transport” (MST) signage from the vehicle. The incident occurred Tuesday morning at Gwaltabi in Imphal East district.
The festival, being held for the first time since the 2023 ethnic violence in Manipur, was scheduled to commence on May 20 with an inaugural ceremony at 11 AM. A bus organized by the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), carrying around 20 journalists, was halted multiple times on its way from Imphal to Ukhrul.
According to journalists present, Border Security Force (BSF) personnel first instructed the team to conceal the state name by covering the “Manipur State Transport” markings on the bus. Complying, the team used paper to hide the signage. However, a team from the MAHAR Regiment said that the bus could not proceed further.
The bus, marked “Manipur State Transport,” had been officially designated by DIPR for the festival’s media coverage.
Ultimately, the journalists abandoned their official assignment and headed back to Imphal. Later, they arranged alternative transport to continue their coverage independently.
