Journalists Protest After Security Stops Shirui Lily Festival Bus

Imphal, May 20: Two journalists’ bodies in Manipur, while urging Governor of Manipur Ajay Kumar Bhalla “for immediate action against those responsible for causing harassment to the journalists who went to cover the Shirui Lily Festival on May 20, 2025″, have decided to “boycott all Manipur State Government related news and information, including State and Central forces operating in Manipur”.

In a joint memorandum submitted to the Governor today, the All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) and the Editors’ Guild of Manipur (EGM) said that “controversy erupted in Manipur on Monday, May 20, 2025, morning after a team of journalists headed to Ukhrul district to cover the Shirui Lily Festival was instructed by security personnel to conceal the words “Manipur State Transport” displayed on government owned vehicle from the Transport Department issued to Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR)”. The memorandum said the incident occurred at the Gwaltabi checkpoint in Imphal East, roughly 25 km from Imphal, and prompted the media team to abandon their official assignment and return to the state capital.

Also read | Journalists Reportedly Asked to Hide ‘Manipur’ Label on State Bus En Route to Shirui Lily Festival

The bus, arranged exclusively for the media by the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), was carrying around 20 journalists along with DIPR staff. The team had departed from the DIPR office in Imphal at approximately 6:30 am to cover the inaugural day of the Shirui Lily Festival, which was inaugurated by the Governor of Manipur.

The vehicle reportedly cleared at least three checkpoints after routine security checks. However, upon reaching Gwaltabi, personnel in front of the 4 Mahar Regiment instructed the team to hide the phrase “Manipur State Transport” printed on the front of the bus. “The instruction raised concern and confusion among the media professionals, who questioned the logic behind hiding a state government name while operating within the state,” said the two journalists’ bodies.

Though the team initially attempted to comply in order to reach the venue in time, delays resulting from negotiations with the security forces led to significant time loss. As a result, the journalists decided to return to Imphal and later arranged alternate transportation on their own.

“This incident has triggered serious questions regarding freedom of the press, public safety, and the existing security environment in the region, including the issue of who is governing the state; the State Government or the Central security forces. Media personnel have called for clarity from the authorities regarding the rationale behind the instruction, especially given the state-backed nature of the journey”, the memorandum also said.

Also read | Governor Visits Ukhrul

The incident had raised serious concern about the writ of the State Government within the state when its own official vehicle could not travel within the state when stopped by the Central security forces personnel, the memorandum also said. “One understands the objections from the Kuki community though unacceptable but the central forces supporting the demands of the Kuki is unprecedented and blatantly illegal in the true sense. The team strictly followed the instruction issued by the ADM, Ukhrul who advised those travelling from Imphal to Ukhrul from 6 am to pm. The act of the security personnel tantamount to disturbing the professional duty of the journalists”, it added.

As a consequence, a joint emergency meeting of All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union and Editors’ Guild of Manipur was held today at Manipur Press Club in Imphal along with members of AMWJU. The meeting resolved to launch a ‘pen down strike’ on May 21 and suspend all normal duties by the journalist fraternity. In the absence of an amicable solution, the pen-down strike may further be extended.

The meeting also resolved to boycott all Manipur State Government related news and information, including State and Central forces operating in Manipur.

The meeting then demanded an inquiry into the incident of “harassment of media persons” en route to Ukhrul for Shirui Lily Festival and to fix responsibility.

Also read | Ukhrul: Aakash Digital SIP Program Launched at KTL Excel Hr Sec School

The meeting then resolved to hold an emergency ‘general body meeting’ of AMWJU and EGM on May 21 at 11 am at Manipur Press Club to discuss the issues arising out of this incident.

The memorandum to the Governor then said, “Your honour is beseeched to urgently look into the matter and find out the culprits who caused such confusion and penalise for their incompetency or exceeding their brief or utter lack of coordination causing not only discomfort and hurt to the journalists in performing their duties and penalise them”, adding, “The act also raises serious issue about the writ of the state government within its jurisdiction”.

(Newmai News Network)