press releases issued by the outfit. But there is a convention to spike press releases of the new outfits and factions. Obi Ahongsangbam, editor and former president of the All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union says, “Some little known outfits are trying to use the local newspapers as their notice boards to further the insurgency related activities.” For the first time all editors in Imphal formed the Editors’ Committee to safeguard their professional rights under the circumstances.

The Silence of the Fourth Pillar

Some cynical reporters said that the police could not track down the mobile numbers used by the insurgents even as they said that the mobile numbers used by these militants in this context were made available to the police. Though it is child’s play to pinpoint the locations of the callers, police failed to smoke out the callers. The garrulous Home Minister of the State Gaikhangam Gangmei and taciturn Chief Minister Okram Ibobi who have been praising the police sky high have nothing to say in this regard. Eventually the scribes and distributors threw down the gauntlet and resumed publication. The insurgents who knew that they can be smoked out any time through the mobile numbers which can pinpoint their locations at the time of making the threatening calls are not making their presence felt as of now.

Manipur has a tragic record of violence unleashed against scribes who had refused to toe the lines. Sanatomba Rajkumar was the first editor to be gunned down by unknown persons. One underground organisation said that the killing had nothing to do with the professional discharge of his duties.

On the night of the 11th of October 1999, Lalrohlu Hmar, a young editor of ‘The Shan’ was going home after dinner at a friend’s home in Churachandpur district. His wife and young son were pillion riding. Some armed persons flagged him down. The fear gripped wife and confused son were asked to move round the curve of the road which was a sensible thing to do since they could see what followed in the next few seconds. The editor was shot dead at point blank range. One tribal underground organisation later claimed responsibility. It said that the killing had nothing to do with the professional duties of the editor. He was alleged to have joined hands with the faction of another outfit.

Some cynical reporters said that the police could not track down the mobile numbers used by the insurgents even as they said that the mobile numbers used by these militants in this context were made available to the police.

Brajamani Thounaojam, editor of ‘Manipur News’, an English newspaper was gunned down on the night of the 20th of August 2000. There was no claim from any underground organization over his life. As of now, the family members do not know the motive behind the killing. A tribal editor, Khupkholian Simte of ‘Leenlai’ was shot dead on the 27th of April 2001. A sub - editor of Imphal Free Press Rishikanta Konsam was killed on the 17th of November 2008. He was overpowered and whisked away to a secluded place whose entrance is guarded by security personnel. In other words insurgents could not have taken them there. There were protests from scribes but the killers have never been accounted for.

Megha Yambem, a correspondent of NE Vision was also killed. His killers were also never arrested. Nanao Thangjam, a correspondent of Prime Time was the last victim. There was a huge outcry in Manipur following the beatings of a film actor by an insurgent in Chandel district. Thangjam was filming the torching of a police vehicle on the 23rd of December 2012. He could not have been mistaken by police since he was wielding a video camera. Some policemen gunned him down at a close range.
In this background there is genuine fear among the scribes whenever there is a threat from the insurgents.

Kavita Laithangbam