Newspapers fail to hit the stands in Manipur

Newspapers on Monday failed to hit the stands in Manipur as media houses and scribes protested against the diktat of militants who have threatened them with dire consequences for disobeying their orders.

"We did not produce today's edition of papers in protest against the attack on the house of the editor of popular daily SANALEIBAK and president of the All Manipur Journalists' Union A Mobi at Thongju area in Imphal west district on Saturday night," sources in media houses said.

Appealing to all including militants, the media houses said they should be allowed to work freely so that daily editions can be published without interruptions to serve the public interest.

An AMWJU spokesman said the media in Manipur was unable to work freely due to intervention from various quarters including militants and other "powerful and unwanted
quarters".

The spokesman told reporters that intervention in the smooth functioning of media persons and media houses by various militant groups had led to frequent non-publication of dailies.

AMWJU president Mobi's house was attacked by exploding by suspected militants on Saturday night but no casualty was reported.

State Home Minister Gaikhangam had earlier said that steps had been taken to protect media personnel and media houses by deploying security and police personnel at places near media houses in the state.