On August 1, Impact TV broadcast journalist Rameshchandra, popularly known as RC Mangang, was allegedly beaten by a policeman while covering a mass rally organised by the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) people of Moreh, in the Akampat area in Manipur.
In a video published by Impact TV, Rameshchandra and his crew can be seen reaching Akampat relief camp in Imphal East to cover the IDP protest rally when they were approachded by police officer SI Nikhil Singh. Rameshchandra identified himself as a journalist, presenting his press card. Despite this, the police officer physically assaulted him, punching him multiple times, tearing his shirt, breaking his mobile phone and threatening to kill him. Rameshchandra was transported to Raj Medicity for treatment.
Following the incident, journalists, led by the All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) and Editors Guild Manipur (EGM), staged a protest and submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister, demanding action against Singh within 48 hours. Manipur police have since suspended the sub-inspector (SI) for “grave misconduct”, with the suspension period requiring Singh to remain at Reserve Line headquarters unless prior permission is granted.
IDP protestors at the Akampat rally, organised by the Committee on Protection of Meetei Victims, were met with tear gas and rubber bullets when police attempted to stop the group proceeding from Singjamei, with 12 people injured. The protestors were comprised of people displaced from the India-Myanmar border town of Moreh, where ethnic violence left 226 people dead and over 59,000 others dispossessed.
The IJU said:“IJU strongly condemns the assault on M Rameschandra by police sub-inspector Nikhil Singh on August 1while he was covering a rally by internally displaced people. IJU demands the state government to ensure the safety and security of journalists in the state.”
The NUJ-I said:“The NUJ-I strongly condemns the recent assault on the journalist in Manipur, and demands accountability from the police for their lack of action and protection. The attack on journalists, who are at the forefront of bringing important news and information to the public, is a direct attack on press freedom and democracy. It is unacceptable that those in power would use violence to silence journalists and hinder their ability to report the truth. NUJ-I demands that the Government take swift action and punish the perpetrators of this assault. This not only serves as a deterrent for future attacks but also sends a clear message that such actions will not be tolerated in a democratic society.”
The IFJ said:“IFJ condemns the assault by a police officer on M Rameshchandra while reporting and calls on both Indian state and federal governments to ensure the safety and security of all working journalists. Amid a rise in violence against media workers across the country, the government must ensure it upholds India’s constitutional commitments to press freedom and democracy and takes firm action to protect journalists in the field.”