Free press is an important part of a democratic nation. Despite this incidences of government authorities trying to curb freedom of press occur regularly. Recently Director General of Police (DGP) of Manipur, Y. Joykumar called reporters to his office. He forced them to reveal their sources of the reports appeared on the local newspapers on Friday, October 10 wherein reporters had gone to Pallel in Chandel district and later to Kakching in Thoubal district to find out more on the news of ‘smuggled fertilizers’. 

The press release of the Manipur journalists’ body said the DGP termed them undemocratic, accused them of yellow journalism, and working beyond the journalistic ethics. The DGP objected to the manner in which the police was implicated in versions of the follow up reports on the case that appeared in the Sangai Express, Poknapham and Naharolgi Thoudang. 

This act of DGP was condemned by the All Manipur Working Journalists Union (AMWJU). Media union said that such act was a threat to the democracy of the state. It added that the DGP would be solely responsible for any future unwanted incidents occurring to the reporters regarding the sources and the reports. The union said that the DGP should punish ‘his police’ personnel instead of threatening the media persons in the current issue. 

Media union added that if the DGP is not transferred within October 14 besides tendering an unconditional apology, the media would boycott all functions related to the Home department and attended by the Chief Minister. 

AMWJU has also informed the Press Council Of India (PCI), the Indian Federation of Working Journalists and Union minister for information and broadcasting, about the violation of journalistic ethics under undue pressure and the resolutions taken in this regard.