No Newspapers in Manipur Since December 30

Imphal, Jan 3 : Newspapers have not hit the stands in Manipur since December 30 due to a collective decision taken by the state's journalists to protest against the arrest of a local editor for allegedly having links with a militant outfit.

Official sources said the editor of a vernacular daily, A Mobi, was arrested on December 29 for alleged links with militant outfit Kangleipak Communist Party-Tabungba group (KCP-T).

A spokesperson of the All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU) said Mobi, the vice-president of AMWJU, was entrusted to contact militant outfits to ensure that they did not disturb media houses and allowed them to function smoothly.

He said while a faction of a militant outfit would want their statement to be published, another would hold out threats against its publication.

Representatives of AMWJU have called on Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh demanding unconditional release of the editor, who is in police custody, the spokesperson said.

AMWJU had held several executive meetings in the past few days and requested the state government to provide security to media houses in view of the threats from militant outfits, he said.

He added that it was decided not to publish any newspapers till Mobi was released.