NIA representatives admit to being ‘contrite’ for Agency’s actions: Sources
Newmai News Network
Imphal | July 5
A three-member delegation of the Press Council of India (PCI) in Imphal today met top State Government officials including the Chief Secretary to discuss prevailing situation faced by media fraternity in Manipur.
The PCI team also called on officials of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), who admitted that among the four Imphal-based media houses here, two were asked to disclose their sources about the May 22 militant ambush at Zoupi of Chandel district along Indo-Myanmar border, which killed six Assam Rifles personnel, sources said.
Details of the meeting between the PCI team and the state officials were awaited. The delegation which was here on a three-day visit to Manipur called on Chief Secretary Oinam Nabakishore Singh, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Dr Suresh Babu and DGP of Manipur Police, LM Khaute.
During the meeting the team is understood to have raised the current problems of the media persons in the State and highlighted the need for their safety and also the NIA notice seeking disclosure of detailed sources of the Zoupi ambush.
Sources said the NIA representatives felt contrite about the Agency’s action served to the media houses as part of the ongoing probe into the Zoupi attack.
The deadly attack came exactly a year after the biggest ambush on the military took place at Paraolon in Chandel, in which as many as 17 soldiers of the 6 Dogra regiment were killed and another 16 injured.
Perturbed, All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) had earlier lodged a complaint with PCI over the NIA move which, the Union felt, caused serious apprehension that could interfere with the freedom of press.
Convenor Ravindra Kumar, C K Nayak and Kosuri Amarnath, members of the committee constituted by the Press Council of India, arrived here yesterday.
The primary purpose of the sub-committee is to evolve guidelines for the media and armed forces on reporting in conflict situations in Manipur and other northeastern states.
Journalists’ guidelines need to be updated
Imphal, July 5 (MExN): Journalists’ guidelines need to be updated from time to time as per the context of the region. This was acknowledged by a visiting sub-committee of the Press Council of India (PCI) during an interaction with the media in Manipur today.
A three-member PCI team arrived in Imphal on July 4 to assess the ongoing situation in the State.
While speaking to the media during a press conference held at the Manipur Press Club, Ravindra Kumar, a member of the visiting team, said that this is their second time in the North East. The PCI made its maiden visit to the region (Guwahati) with regard to press issues in Nagaland.
He stated during the press conference that the sub-committee understands the working conditions of the media in the State, and that all problems can be resolved through dialogue and understanding each other.
He suggested that the report of the sub-committee will be submitted to the full council, which has 28 members, very soon. The member also hinted that a new set of guidelines for the media in the region is likely to be brought out after a PCI meeting in the second week of September. He also expressed the need for the media to follow the ‘do’s and don’ts’ prescribed by the PCI guidelines very strictly. The PCI sub-committee also met Manipur State agencies, including NIA officials, during their 3-days stay in Imphal.
