IMPHAL, March 1: A meeting of the Editors`™ Guild of Manipur held at the residence of the Khoirom Loyalakpa, editor of Naharolgi Thoudang on February 28, took stock of the situation under which Loyalakpa has come under threat from some unidentified gunmen in the past two weeks.
A statement of EGM said it is clear from the facts that the threat to the Editor is being made by some individuals and not by any armed group as suspected before.
It said that it suspected the threat is being made in order to suppress publication of certain news item not wanted by some people and added that Editors`™ Guild Manipur considers this as an infringement on the `right to expression` and condemns the act.
Members of Editors`™ Guild Manipur in a show of solidarity to Loyalakpa have decided to appeal the state Home department to provide personal security to him till the threat has been eliminated, it said.
This is over the static guards being provided to him at his residence, it added.
Further it said that EGM also met the IO of the case Victor and urged him to speed up the investigation and book the concerned people as soon as possible so that media in Manipur and editor Loyalakpa in particular can discharge their duties in free and fearless environment.
The EGM has also drawn the attention of the Chief Minister and Deputy CM who is also Home Minister of Manipur to the unsafe environment media in Manipur is working and to take serious view of the threat on Loyalakpa.
`So far EGM is not happy at measures being taken up to protect the media in the state,` it said.
EGM has also thanked all the organisations that have supported to editor Loyalakpa and Manipur media at this crucial moment and urge their continued support for a fear free media environment.