Imphal: Police in Imphal’s Singjamei area resorted to firing several rounds of tear gas as protesters clashed with Manipur Police on Thursday.
A mass rally organized by the Committee on Protection of Meetei Victims (COPMeV) in Singjamei’s Akampat area quickly escalated as demonstrators advocating for the rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) confronted the police.
The IDPs marched through the streets of Akampat, demanding immediate resettlement and rehabilitation measures and urgent need for government intervention.
Educational institutions in the Akampat area bore the brunt of the escalating situation as school children took shelter in their classrooms.
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During the coverage of the rally, an Impact News (Impact TV) reporter RC Mangangcha was allegedly assaulted, despite identifying himself as a journalist by police personnel raising serious concerns about press freedom and the safety of media personnel in the state. The reporter has been rushed to Raj Medicity.
RC Manangcha was reportedly trying to capture footage of the rally when an altercation occurred. Eyewitnesses claim the reporter was forcibly detained and their equipment damaged.
Impact News (Impact TV) said that “RC Mangangcha was kicked on his chest and his mobile phone snatched even after identifying himself as journalist. His chin was stitched and chest x-ray taken at Raj Medicity.”
Manipur journalists fraternity has strongly condemned the alleged assault on its member. The All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union and Editor Guild of Manipur has rushed to Raj Medicity, as per sources.
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