The Manipur government has banned publication of any propaganda of unlawful organisations or terrorist groups. Newspapers, books or printed documents would be forfeited if they contain news items which were considered to be subversive and a threat to the integrity of the country, the government decreed in an official order issued by Principal Secretary (Home) PBO Warjri.
The state home department order, issued under section 95 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), 1973 on August 2, came even as newspapers in Manipur were off the press after a gift-wrapped rocket-propelled grenade was delivered to a newspaper office in Imphal July 31. Journalists and editors had suspended publication of all dailies indefinitely and pulled news bulletins off local cable channels.
The grenade received by the Sangai Express came from a faction of the underground People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK). The faction was trying to coerce the daily into dropping a statement issued by its rival faction. The print and electronic media resumed working August 5 after after the underground factions apologised, and gave their undertaking that such incidents would not be repeated in the future.
Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh government's decision came even as he was assuring journalists that their safety would be of priority concern to his establishment. The measure, the Imphal Free Press said, has been taken under the government's 'action plan' to contain violence in the state, under which it has decided to strictly monitor publication of news by the media and activities of non-governmental organisations.
Under section 95 of the CrPC, the government is authorised to order by notification the forfeiture of any publication containing matter the publishing of which is punishable under sections 124A, 153A, 153B, 292, 293, or 295A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Once the notification is issued, any police officer can seize any copy of the publication in question, and under warrant issued by a magistrate may enter upon and search any premise for the same.
The order said any printed material, ie, either newspapers or books and any documents whether printed or in electronic form shall be referred to the state government if they contained any material on the following:
- All items directly attributed to unlawful organisations, organised gangs, organisations, terrorists and terrorists-related organisations considered to be subversive and a threat to the integrity of the state and the country.
- Obituary notices for “shradhaâ€, “asti sanchaiâ€, cremation and burial ceremonies showing that the dead person is a martyr in the struggle for an independent and sovereign state and which may contain the names of known terrorists and terrorists related organisations or unlawful organisations or organised gangs as the sponsors of the advertisement.
- Publication of threats’ of any sort by terrorist organisations or unlawful organisations or organised gangs or by a person or group of persons to any person or class of persons.
- Publication of any code of behaviour, dress code or social practice decreed by terrorists or terrorists-related organisations or unlawful organisations or organised gangs.
- Publication of any justification for killings, causing injury, assault, kidnapping, imposition of fines or warnings made by terrorists-related organisations or unlawful organisations or organised gangs or organisations.
- Publication of notices for payment to terrorists related organizations or unlawful organisations or organised gangs in cash or kind.
- Publication of items in the form of invitation to the unlawful organisations, organised gangs and terrorists-related organisations to settle or solve disputes.
The All Manipur Working Journalists Union (AMWJU), said in a statement, "By passing the order, the government has not only interfered with the media`s right to function freely, but also restrained the only means of communication on which the people of the state depend to bring about a peaceful resolution to the multifaceted conflict situation in Manipur."
The Imphal Free Press wrote, "Under normal circumstances, the government’s decree would probably have been nothing more than routine warning about what is illegal. But these are not normal times. In the total failure of the law from providing a secure environment to the citizens, and in the condition of prolonged exposure to militancy under such a lawless circumstance, it is only to be expected that the people, including the media, are left with little other choice than to buy their own peace and security by negotiating with all the powers that be that they are faced with, in the best way they can. This is exactly what they have been doing. This is exactly what the media fraternity has just done last week. Ensure the return of law and order; ensure security to the citizens; and they would much more willingly be law abiders."
