Protests in Manipur after security forces cover state’s name on govt bus carrying journalists : Manipur Media Declares ‘Stop the Press’ Protest on May 21
Imphal : Major political parties and media organisations of Manipur on Tuesday criticised the security forces for allegedly stopping a government bus with journalists on board and covering the name of the state written on its windshield.
The media groups also said that because of the “harassment” caused to journalists, they will observe a pen down strike on Wednesday and boycott all news and information related to the Manipur government and all state and central forces operating here.
The reason behind the act was not shared by the authorities till filing of the report.
The Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) has arranged a Manipur State Transport bus to take around 20 journalists from the state capital Imphal to Ukhrul district to cover the 5th state-level tourism festival of Shirui Lily.
Security forces stopped the bus at Gwaltabi check post, some 25 km from here, and allegedly forced the DIPR staff to cover the state’s name written on the top of the vehicle’s windshield with a piece of white paper.
Following this, the journalists returned to Imphal. They also took part in a rally from Manipur Press Club to Raj Bhavan, a distance of around two km, to protest the incident and submitted a memorandum to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, demanding an investigation into the incident.
Manipur, which saw the deaths of at least 260 people in ethnic clashes between Meiteis and Kukis since May 2023, is currently under the President’s rule.
The BJP, which was governing the state before it came under the President’s rule in February, and the Congress criticised the security forces for the incident.
“We strongly condemn the incident. Manipur was written on the state transport bus not specially for the festival. It has been in practice for decades,” state BJP Manipur general secretary P Premananda told reporters.
The party will not remain silent if the sentiments of the Manipuri people are offended, he said.
The Congress also expressed concern over the incident.
“The bus was sent to cover Shirui festival by the DIPR of the state government. It was meant to give a positive dimension of the state,” the party’s senior spokesperson Ningombam Bupenda Meitei said.
The double engine did not succeed and now the President’s rule, too, has failed to ensure free movement for all, he alleged.
The Congress leader said, “When a Manipur state transport bus can’t move freely within its own state, how can an ordinary person feel safe to move freely?”
Media organisations, in their memorandum to the governor, sought immediate action against those responsible for “causing harassment” to the journalists who went to cover the Shirui Lily Festival during the day.
“The vehicle cleared at least three checkpoints after routine security checks. However, upon reaching Gwaltabi, personnel from the 4 Mahar Regiment instructed the team to hide the phrase ‘Manipur State Transport’ printed on the front of the bus.
“The instruction raised concern and confusion among the media professionals, who questioned the logic behind hiding a state government name while operating within the state,” the memorandum submitted by the All Manipur Working Journalists Union and Editors Guild Manipur read.
In a joint emergency meeting, the two organisations decided to launch pen down strike on May 21.
“In the absence of an amicable solution, the pen-down strike may further be extended”, the memorandum said, adding that the media houses will “boycott all Manipur state government related news and information, including state and central forces operating in Manipur.”
They also demanded an inquiry into the incident of harassment of media persons en route to Ukhrul for Shirui Lily Festival and fix responsibility.
Meanwhile, more than 200 women of Khwairambam market, the largest market in the state, also staged a protest in the wake of the incident.
The women protesters demanded action against the security forces personnel who stopped the bus.
Manipur Media Declares ‘Stop the Press’ Protest on May 21 Over Alleged Army Harassment
Aseem Bhakt, KalimNews, May 20, 2025, Imphal : In a unified show of protest, media houses across Manipur—both print and electronic—will cease all publication and broadcasting activities on Wednesday, May 21. The move comes in response to what journalists have described as harassment and illegal detention by personnel of the 4th Mahar Regiment of the Indian Army at the Gwaltabi checkpoint in Imphal East.
The decision was jointly announced by the All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) and the Editors’ Guild Manipur (EGM) following an emergency meeting held on Tuesday. The protest is a direct reaction to an incident involving a 20-member media team, including officials from the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), who were travelling in a Manipur State Transport (MST) bus to cover the inaugural event of the Shirui Lily Festival in Ukhrul.
The team was stopped at Gwaltabi checkpoint despite having cleared previous checkpoints. According to accounts from journalists, army personnel demanded the removal of the MST signage on the government bus, reportedly citing instructions from “higher authorities.” Despite presenting valid credentials, the media personnel were allegedly subjected to repeated questioning and pressure. The situation escalated into a heated exchange, and under duress—and out of concern for safety—the MST markings were removed. Unable to proceed, the team returned to Imphal, abandoning the planned coverage.
The incident has sparked widespread condemnation from the press community. In a joint statement, the AMWJU and EGM denounced the army’s conduct as a violation of press freedom and a challenge to the dignity of the Manipur state administration. “If a government vehicle carrying accredited media persons cannot move freely within its own state, it raises serious questions about the rule of law,” the statement noted.
Braving adverse weather, representatives of the two organisations submitted a memorandum to the Governor of Manipur, demanding the following:
Immediate disciplinary action against the army personnel involved.
Accountability for officials responsible for allowing such an incident to occur.
A review of the security planning for the Shirui Lily Festival to ensure journalist safety.
Clear directives to the DIPR to improve coordination with security agencies.
As part of their protest, the media fraternity has announced a one-day Pen-Down Strike on May 21, with a warning that further actions may follow if their demands are not addressed. Additionally, a media blackout on all government and security force-related coverage has been declared, to continue until assurances of press freedom and accountability are firmly established.
This incident has reignited debate on the operational transparency of security forces and the protection of journalists working in conflict-sensitive zones like Manipur.
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