Imphal: Newspapers today failed to hit the stands for the second time this week in Manipur due to threats to distributors by some persons, who demanded that their press release be published in the dailies.
Sources in All Manipur Newspaper Sales and Distributors Association (AMNSDA) said some important functionaries of the AMNSDA have been called by the “unwanted elements” for distributing or circulating copies of the dailies on Thursday despite their diktat not to do so.
Media houses printed copies of the dailies on Friday but because of the threat, members of the AMNSDA on Friday morning decided not to circulate or distribute the papers, they said.
“We have already informed these certain unwanted elements who wanted their press release to be published in the daily papers to hold talks with the Editors instead of threatening us,” sources said, adding that publishing a press release or statement is not in the hands of the AMNSDA.
No copies of the dailies were printed for three days from September two, sources said adding that copies of the papers which were printed on September one could neither be circulated nor distributed due to the threat.
Sources in the media houses said after discussing the matter among All Manipur Working Journalists Union (AMWJU), Editors Committee Manipur (ECM) and other organisations, copies of the dailies were printed and circulated on Thursday morning against the threat from these persons.
Police has been deployed at all important media houses in the state capital after discussion on the present issue between Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and representatives of the AMWJU, they said.
Various civil societies, students’ bodies and political parties have appealed to all concerned not to disturb the circulation and distribution of daily papers in the state. (PTI)
