Imphal: The media organizations of Manipur have registered strong protest over the alleged harassment of K Shamjai, President of All Manipur Working Journalists Union by NIA.
A memorandum was submitted by the All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU), Editors’ Guild Manipur (EGM) and Manipur Hill Journalists’ Union (MHJU) on Wednesday to the Governor La Ganesan and CM N Biren informing them about the matter.
A joint emergency meeting of AMWJU, EGM and MHJU convened at Manipur Press Club on Wednesday expressed strong resentment on such treatment meted out to Shamjai. The meeting also resolved to submit memoranda highlighting such painful episode to the Union Home Minister, Governor, Manipur Chief Minister, Press Council of India (PCI) and Indian Journalists’ Union (IJU).
A decision was also taken to hold a protest demonstration on August 4, 2022 to denounce the interference of the NIA with the media community.
It was informed that on July 31, Shamjai received a phone call from an officer of NIA asking him to turn up at their office at 10 am of August 2. With a clear mind to co-operate with the agency’s investigation, Shamjai turned up on time. However, to his utter surprise, he was left in a small room without being interacted till one officer began interrogating him around noon. He was then hurled with uncomfortable and unrelated queries in another room.
According to Shamjai, he was also intimidated by the NIA sleuths. The interrogation continued till around 5 pm.
The three organizations said it seriously took such excesses of the NIA as an insult and a big challenge to the independence of the media. As law abiding and responsible citizens the journalists have been cooperating with any investigation taken up by the law enforcing/investigating agencies it was stated.
