MEDIA CONDEMNS MANIPUR POLICE FOR KILLING TV JOURNALIST

Scribe bodies join hand in condoling Dwijamani MANIPUR HILL JOURNALISTS UNION CONDEMNED THE KILLING OF TV JOURNALIST BY STATE POLICE Imphal, Dec 24, 2012 [TSE]: Expressing shock over the demise of TV journalist Thangjam Dwijamani alias Nanao in police firing, Manipur Hill Journalists Union (MHJU) said that it is very unfortunate that a journalist died at the hands of police. Saying that the callousness of the police has taken a precious life, the union in a press release said that the incident was a grim reminder of the insecurity of the media persons in Manipur. While the police are expected to provide security to the media persons, yet, many a time, the police or the security forces became the killers, the press release said. It is alarming that the journalists are being targeted while discharging their daily duties. The ugly incident has clearly reflected the insecurity of State journalists at the times of crisis or violence. The State Government must provide security to the journalists, who are often caught between security forces and underground outfits. Condemning the killing of the journalist at its strongest term, Manipur Hills Journalist Union (MHJU) also demanded for stringent action against involved police personnel. The union also urged the Chief Minister to order a probe into the incident and provide compensation to the family of the slain journalist. The union also extended deep condolences to the bereaved family. However, Manipur Hill Journalists Union (MHJU) has not been allowed to attend the condolence of Nanao by the bandh supporters which indeed is a disrespectful act for the media voice and its freedom, added the press release. The union also appealed the Film Forum Manipur and Manipur State Shumang Leela Council to lift the indefinite bandh in view of the Christmas festival. All Jiribam Working Journalists' Union (AJWJU) while convening an emergency meeting condoled the death of Dwijamani. While demanding the Government that all necessary assistance be provided to the bereaved family, AJWJU also shared grief with the family members. The Senapati District Working Journalists Association has also deeply mourned the untimely death of DDK news stringer Thangjam Dwijamai alias Nanao while on duty In a press release, the association said that he was a promising journalist of the State. The media fraternity would miss him in the venture to inform and bring justice to the society. The association also condemned the Home Department, and the involved police personnel in connection with the incident. Delhi NE Media Forum condemns Imphal incident New Delhi, Dec 24, 2012 [TSE]: The Delhi based North East Media Forum (NEMF) condemned the killing of journalist Thangjam Dijwamani in Imphal on Sunday during the police firing against protesters over the molestation of an actress by an NSCN (IM) cadre. The Forum also extended condolence to the bereaved family and friends of the journalist and stands by them in this difficult time. The message issued by the Forum President Utpal Borpujari and General Secretary and Nishit Dholabhai stated that media persons in Manipur have been braving attacks and threats from a medley of resistance groups. However, the indiscriminate firing by the police on Sunday shows that the Government neither has a mechanism in place to ensure safety of media persons nor the police and security personnel were sensitized to deal with the media, especially with reporters and photographers covering the spots. Expressing solidarity with journalist in Manipur , The NEMF demands that the State Government initiate an independent probe into the Sunday incident in Imphal and assure that the guilty are punished and such an incident is not repeated. The Forum also condemn police brutality in New Delhi on Sunday when media persons and photo-journalists were beaten up by police while covering the protest against the gang rape of the 23 year old The NEMF demanded that an independent probe be initiated by the Manipur Government into the shameful incident and the Government assure the vibrant media of Manipur that the guilty are punished and such an incident is not repeated. Journalists Unions mourns scribe Imphal, Dec 24, 2012 [IFP]: The Manipur Hill Journalists Union (MHJU) has in a statement expressed its shock over the brutal killing of a TV journalist Thangjam Dwijamani Singh alias Nanao on Sunday (December 23) during the police firing in the state capital of Imphal. A press release from the Union said that that the manner of Nanao's death is a grim reminder of the insecurity of the media persons in Manipur. "It is alarming that journalists are being targeted while performing their daily duties. The ugly incident clearly reflects the insecurity of state journalists in times of crisis or violence." the statement said. Calling for  stringent action to be taken against the police who cold bloodedly shot dead the journalist, the Union urged the Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, to order a probe into the incident and to give compensation to the family of the slain journalist. The statement further said that the Manipur Hill Journalists Union (MHJU) has not been allowed to attend the condolence of its fraternity  by the bandh supporters which indeed is a disrespectful act for the media voice and its freedom. It further appealed to the Film Forum Manipur (FFM) and Manipur State Shumang Leela Council to lift the 'indefinite bandh' which has disrupted the Christmas moods and activities in the State. Meanwhile, the Senapati District Working Journalists Association has deeply mourned the untimely death of Thangjam Dwijamai alias Nanao while on duty saying that he was a promising and upcoming journalist of the state. In its statement, the Association has condemned the home department and the police personnel involved in the firing that led to the death of Nanao. JU condemns Manipuri scribe's death in police firing Hyderabad, Dec 24, 2012 [IFP]: The Indian Journalists Union (IJU) today expressed profound shock over the death of Manipuri journalist Thangjam Nanao Singh, allegedly in police firing, while covering the face-off between protesters and police over molestation of a local actress by a Naga militant. In a statement issued here today, IJU President S N Sinha and Secretary General Devulpalli Amar expressed doubts over the official version and wondered how only the journalist wounded while not even a single alleged agitator injured in the police firing. Thangjam Dwijamani Singh alias Nanao, a journalist with 'Prime Time' news channel who also contributed pictures to Doordarshan, was killed in the police firing yesterday while taking pictures during the strike at Thangmeiband area in Imphal West district over the molestation incident. "We have our own apprehensions. We demand that a credible and independent inquiry should be held to find out the cause and circumstances leading to police firing and the resultant death of journalist. We also demand that the police should immediately return the camera of Nanao Singh in which he had captured the happenings on the spot before he fell to the police bullet", they said, adding the snaps in the camera might lead to unravel the cause of the firing. Sinha and Amar demanded that the family of Nanao Singh should be adequately compensated by the governments of India and Manipur. They called upon the working journalists in the country to protest against lack of safety to journalists in the country.

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