In a 15 October 1999 letter to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, RSF expressed its indignation over the murder of N. A. Lalrohlu, editor of the local vernacular newspaper "Shan". RSF asked that "a serious and thorough investigation is conducted to identify and punish the authors of the murder, which seems to be a serious warning to independent journalists in the state of Manipur." RSF also drew the prime minister's attention to assaults against journalists made by security forces in Manipur state.
On 10 October, Lalrohlu, editor of the local vernacular newspaper "Shan", was shot by suspected militants of separatist movements in Manipur state. The 35-year-old journalist was murdered with three other people after they were abducted by at least fifty militants. Before he was shot, he published articles in the daily which were critical of the militia groups. Journalists' organisations in Manipur state strongly condemned the killing and all newspapers remained closed for one day as a protest gesture.
