IMPHAL, OCT 28 (PTI): Newspapers were not published in Manipur today following a decision by editors and managements in protest against frequent interferences by militants in the functioning of media organisations.
A joint meeting of editors and senior journalists of different papers was held yesterday and the decision was taken not to bring out editions of the dailies indefinitely, sources said.
The sources said a militant outfit KCP (City Meitei) had issued a statement through fax some days ago and wanted the dailies to publish it. But the newspapers had not carried the statement in their editions.
The outfit's leader City Metei himself rang up prominent dailies yesterday morning and said no editions should be brought out if they failed to include the statement issued by the militant outfit, the sources said.
Earlier, major insurgent organisation United National Liberation Front (UNLF) had banned KCP (City Meitei) outfit for 'tarnishing the image of by extorting money from public in the name of revolution.' The All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU), the biggest body of media personnel in the state, has extended support to the decision and appealed to all sections of the people not to interrupt the functioning of the media personnel and organisations in the state.
A joint meeting of the journalists, editors and representatives of different media organisations is slated for later today to discuss the future course of action.
