Manipur media houses to resume functioning from Friday

Imphal, February 18 (PTI): After being in suspension since February 13 following a grenade attack at the office of a local daily, newspapers will be published and news will be broadcast via cable again in Manipur from Friday, an organisation of journalists said.

All Manipur Working Journalists Union (AMWJU) and Editor's Guild Manipur (EGM) held a joint meeting on Thursday and decided to resume normal functioning.

The two organisations also said as no outfit claimed responsibility or provided explanation for the attack, according to a statement issued by AMWJU.

Newspaper publication and cable news broadcast have been suspended in the state to protest against the attack on the office of Imphal-based "Poknapham" and its sister publication "The People's Chronicle".

CCTV footage showed a woman riding a two-wheeler stopping in front of the office and lobbing the grenade inside the office at around 6.30 pm on Saturday. However, the grenade did not explode.

Chief Minister N Biren Singh earlier said that a four- member Special Investigation Team headed by the Imphal West district superintendent of police would probe the incident.