Former AMWJU president, his associate journalist arrested as insurgents, suspended from AMWJU

Imphal: Former president of All Manipur Working Journalist Union (AMWJU) Bijoy Kakchingtabam and standing committee member of the journalist union Leimapokpam Shanjitkumar Singh were arrested from Bishnupur bazaar near Ngaikhong crossing along Tiddim road on Friday morning.

The duo were apprehended by a team of Bishnupur district police commando.

Bijoy Kakchingtabam, 54, son of late K. Achouba Sharma of Khongman West, Imphal East and Leimapokpam Shanjitkumar Singh, 41, son of late L. Godadhor Singh of Singjamei Oinam Thingel, Imphal West, according to police, are active cadres of a valley based proscribed outfit.

Police reported that based on an input received from sister agency and NIA, the police team under the command of officer-in-charge, commando Bishnupur district under the supervision of additional superintendent of police (Ops), Roni Mayengbam and overall supervision of superintendent of police Herojit Meitei apprehended them.

They disclosed that they are presently working as active cadres of the outfit under the command of one self-styled publicity director, Shakhen of the outfit who is presently staying at Myanmar, a police report said.

They revealed that they came to Bishnupur under the telephonic (through whatsapp) instruction of Shakhen to recruit new cadres from Bishnupur area and to send at Myanmar, it added.

They were arrested at the spot. Three mobile phones and one Verna car bearing registration number MN06LA 7696 were seized from their possession.

The arrested persons along with the seizures have been handed over to Bishnupur police station for further necessary legal action, the police report said.

Bijoy of Poknapham and Shanjitkumar of Eikhoigee Panthung have been suspended for a year with immediate effect as per the resolution of the Standing Committee meeting held on Saturday.

“They have been placed under suspension for committing activities which lowers the dignity of journalism profession in general and AMWJU in particular,” a special order of the journalist body said.

During the period of suspension they lose all rights and privileges of being a member of AMWJU, it added.