Grenade toss at Poknapham press, scribe to stage sit-in protest

Imphal: In a direct attack to press, a hand grenade was tossed at the office of Poknapham newspaper on Saturday. The incident occurred at around 6:30 pm in the evening.

As per sources, a woman, who came in a two-wheeler, tossed the bomb at the newspaper’s office at Keishampat Thiyam Leikai, Imphal West. There were no reports of any casualties.

Following the incident, a joint meeting of the Editors Guild Manipur (EGM) and All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) held at Manipur Press Club have decided to cease all newspaper publication and broadcast starting from the evening of February 13.

The meeting also resolved to organise a sit-in protest at Keisampat Leimajam Leikai, Imphal West from 11 am till 3 pm on February 14 in protest against the attack following which a memorandum will be submitted to the chief minister of Manipur.

Meanwhile, information and public relations minister, Th Biswajit Singh strongly condemned the cowardly attack upon the media in an attempt to strangulate the freedom of expression.