Imphal, December 22: Media fraternity of Manipur demonstrated at the State capital here yesterday in protest against the life attempt on the editor of Kangla Pao.
Editor of local vernacular eveninger Kangla Pao Paonam Labango (47) was fired upon by three unknown youths while the former was moving out from his Sega Road office along Tiddim Road after completing the day's work at 9.10 pm on December 20.Though the bullet missed him, it hit his scooter.
"After realising that I was being targeted, I accelerated my scooter.
Though the bullet missed me, it hit my scooter,' Labango of Sagolband Khamnam Leirak said, adding that the youths fled from the scene after firing a singular shot.
"As far as I know, I haven't received any kind of threat or intimidation from any underground organisation and so I have no suspect.
I am still in the dark as to why I have been attacked", Labango said.
Following the incident, an emergency meeting of the editors of all the newspapers under the banner of Editors' Forum, Manipur was held in the late evening of December 20.The meeting condemned the incident in the strongest term and decided to suspend publication of the newspapers for one day and staged a dharna in protest.
Forum president Keisham Shyam said the life attempt on Labango is not the first time on the journalists in Manipur.
How can we continue to work freely when such frequent attacks, intimidation and threat are mounted on us?, he questioned while recalling the gunning down of four editors in the past.
Police have registered an FIR case on the matter and investigation is on.
At the demonstration site, the scribes numbering more than 150 affixed placards with slogans like 'Ee condemn attack on journalist', 'Respect the fourth estate of democracy' and 'We have no friend or foe', etc.
The life attempt on Labango came barely a fortnight after two senior journalists of another local vernacular daily Matamgi Yaikairol namely Yendrembam Mangi (56) and Haobam Gopal (49) were severely bashed up by unknown persons and 10 months after militants shot.
At least four editors of local dailies have been gunned down by unidentified persons in the past few years and till now the assailants have not made any clarification on the matter.
All Manipur Working Journalists' Union and Editors' Forum, Manipur would be jointly submitting a memorandum to Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh on the chain of attacks on scribes, a Forum member said.
Meanwhile, several organisations condemning the life attempt against the editor of Kangla Pao observed the attack as a despicable infringement upon the indispensable freedom of press and which is against the principle of democracy.
While expressing solidarity with the sentiment and plight of the media persons, Janata Dal (Secular), sega Road Leimajam Leikai Women's Welfare Association, Manipur Public Grievances Committee (BT Road), All manipur Muslim Organisations' Coordinating Committee, ACOAM-Lup Kangleipak (Sagolband), Singjamei Apunba Nupi Lup, Kanglei Chanura Chaokhat Lamching Lup, United People's Front, Ethno Heritage Council, All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation, Federation of Regional Indigenous Societies, DESAM, Salai Apunba Nupi lamjing Lup (Singjamei) and International Peace and Social Advancement appealed to all concerned to acknowledge role of the media and media-persons.
