Manipur journalists strike after reporter assaulted & abducted

Imphal: Journalists in Manipur are on a two-day strike, protesting the brutal assault and abduction of a local cable news reporter, Kumar Nongthombam.

This comes as local cable networks remain blank and newspapers fail to reach newsstands in the state capital, Imphal.

The strike, organized by the All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU) and Editors' Guild, Manipur (EGM), demands the arrest of those involved in the attack on Nongthombam

The 37-year-old reporter was reportedly beaten by armed assailants on February 23 in his rented room in Imphal East.

The perpetrators also set the room on fire, destroying his camera, laptop, and other belongings.

No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the attack, but police have registered a case and are investigating the incident.

"We vehemently condemn the brutal acts of the armed men," stated a joint statement from AMWJU and EGM.

"This attack is an attack on press freedom and democracy. We demand the immediate arrest of the culprits and urge the authorities to ensure the safety and security of journalists in Manipur", the organisation claimed.