IMPHAL, Feb 8: The All Manipur Working Journalist Union (AMWJU) has strongly condemned the abduction attempt of Keithelakpam Manikanta, English edition sub-editor of Huiyen Lanpao, by miscreants from his Meitram Awang Leikai residence late last night around 12:45 pm.
A press statement of the AMWJU spokespersons, A. Mobi Singh, said the incident occurred when Manikanta was returning home from his duty. Three persons coming on a Maruti van (silver gray) coming in very suspicious manner stop their vehicles and hurried towards Manikanta who by then was trying to lock the gate.
It said realizing that he will not be able to open the door Manikanta ran towards the back of the house following which two persons chased him with torch light in their hands. Suddenly Manikanta’s father rushes out from the house due to which the two miscreants back off. At the same time, Manikanta’s wife who also alerted called him and asked of what was going during which the miscreants responded as if nothing happen and left the scene.
The incident has not only triggered a sense of insecurity and restlessness in the mind of Manikanta but also among the entire Journalist.
The AMWJU further questioned the motive behind incident adding such incident has given a blow to the Journalist community. It urged the individual or organization involved to clarify the motive and approach AMWJU if there was any wrong doings of Manikanta adding the AMWJU termed the incident as an act of terrorism for stalking a Journalist contributing the society.
It further appealed not to repeat such incident to the concerned party and asserted that all problems could be solved through dialogue.
In the meantime, an emergency meeting of the standing committee of the AMWJU is convened tomorrow at 12 noon and asked all the members to attend the meeting without any failure.
