PCI seeks report from Manipur government
NEW DELHI: Editors Guild of India expressed serious concern regarding violence and threats faced by the media houses in general and editors in particular.
A respected Editor, Yumnam Rupachandra Singh received death threats from a militant organisation and a bomb was found at the gate of his house on December 14 evening. All the newspapers in the state closed their publication on December 16 and not even a single newspaper hit the stands on December 17.
In their editions dated December 16, they left the editorial space blank. All the Television news channels stopped their news broadcasts on that day to protest against threats to the media, impinging on the freedom of the media.
According to reports, two months back the media establishments in the state received a press note announcing floating of a new militant group. As there was no independent confirmation the claims made in the press note, the print and electronic media organisations did not publish/broadcast the news.
Incensed over the refusal of the media to give publicity to their claims, some unknown persons telephoned news organisations and issued death threats and claimed that they planted a grenade in front of Rupachandra Singh´s residence.
Editors Guild of Manipur and other journalists and civil society organisations condemned the militant threats to editors and working journalists and demanded that security should be provided to them. They made it clear that they would not succumb to threats and carry out their mission.
Editors Guild of India condemned violence and attack on media people by militants. Guild called upon Government of Manipur to arrest the culprits and give protection to journalists in the state. There is serous threat to Freedom of Media in the state.
Expressing grave concern over death threats to editors and working journalists in Manipur from some underground and banned organisations, Press Council of India has sought a report from the state government regarding the matter. Taking suo-motu cognisance of the incidents, the panel is also contemplating sending a sub-committee to assess the situation. “PCI Chairman Justice C K Prasad has expressed grave concern over the death threats to editors and working journalists in Manipur from some underground and banned organisations in the recent days and sought a report from the Government of Manipur on the issue,” the Council said in a press statement.
Justice Prasad said any diktat to the editors or working journalists for publication or non-publication of news by state or non-state players amounted to “invasion of the news room” and it “violated freedom” of the press guaranteed under the Constitution.
Terming it as “unacceptable” in a democratic society, Justice Prasad said the Press Council of India, a statutory body mandated to protect freedom of the press in the country, had taken suo-motu cognisance of the threats to the media and media personnel in Manipur. It will thereafter explore the possibility of sending a sub-committee to assess the situation in Manipur and surrounding states, he said. (PTI)