The much-awaited report of the ‘Enquiry Committee’ constituted in connection with the infamous ‘May 20 Gwaltabi Incident’ is likely to be submitted to the government by the 13th of this month. Altogether, 12 journalists from the state gave their statements before the committee members this afternoon at the Secretariat South Block in Imphal.
The 12 journalists, including one from this news organisation, recorded their statements before the two-member committee constituted by the government, which includes the Home Secretary and IT Secretary. Earlier, as per an order on May 20, the report was to be submitted within 15 days; however, it was delayed.
On the day of the incident, the scribe bodies AMWJU and the Editors’ Guild submitted a memorandum to the Governor of Manipur and boycotted publication of government-related information until the submission of the enquiry report.
The incident sparked widespread protests in the state when journalists travelling in a Manipur State Transport (MST) bus for coverage of the ‘Shirui Festival’ were stopped by personnel of the Mahar Regiment at Gwaltabi in Imphal East and were asked to remove the state name ‘Manipur’ from the bus to proceed further.
