Imphal, Jan 4: Editor of a newspaper based in Imphal was today detained for some hours by police. He was reportedly picked up from his residence this morning.

Hemantakumar Ningomba is the editor of Sanaleibak, a local daily newspaper.

Meanwhile, All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) and Editors’ Guild, Manipur (EGM) strongly condemned the manner in which the editor was picked up from his residence by a team of Irilbung police station of Imphal East district.

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After a detailed discussion in a joint sitting of AMWJU and Editors’ Guild, Manipur (EGM) held at Manipur Press Club in Imphal at 10 am today, the meeting strongly condemned the manner in which the editor was picked up from his residence in the early hours of today by the team of Irilbung Police Station of Imphal East district.

“Shri Hemantakumar is a respected editor and is not an absconder and the manner in which he was picked up for his statement in a panel discussion in a local TV channel affects his dignity and stature in the society,” a joint statement of the two Manipur based media organisations said. It further said that the concerned officers could have simply invited him for a discussion during the office hours as no case has been registered against him and he was set free after some hours.

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The meeting of the media persons then resolved to place before the state government to ensure that “such unsavoury incidents” do not recur in future. “If such avoidable incidents happen again, the journalist fraternity will not take it Iying down and all efforts to safeguard the journalists of the state will be taken up, including legal action,” the joint statement cautioned.