IMPHAL : Strongly denouncing the act of burning the print material in the Kangpokpi district by unknown assailants, the Manipur media fraternity staged in protest and suspended one day of duty.  The fraternity termed the unfortunate incident as an act to silence the state media which is a complete violation of freedom of speech of rights and expression.

Addressing to media at the sidelines of the protest, vice president of the All Manipur Working Journalists Union (AMWJU), Raj Nongthombam said that the protest demonstration is being held to condemn the arson of print materials in Kangpokpi district on August 7 during broad daylight.

He continued and termed the incident as a selective targeted attack to suppress and silence the voice of the media. The authority concerned should take the incident very seriously as targeting to media amounts to an attack on democracy.

He also expressed his resentment over the unfortunate despite stationing security forces on national highways.

Raj also said that the media fraternity has been urging for smooth transportation of print material along national highways 2 and 37 since the onset of the crisis. For such a long time, no such incident of hijack or attack on to truck loaded with print materials happened.

But all of sudden arson of print materials in Kangpokpi district by Unknown miscreants probably armed miscreants was carried out on August 7.

The concerned authority particularly the security adviser of Manipur should take strict action against the perpetrators of the crime. The authority concerned should give adequate compensation for burnt materials and provide adequate security measures to prevent disturbance along national highways.