Imphal: In a striking display of solidarity and defiance, all major newspapers in Manipur published blank editorial columns on June 9, 2025, accompanied only by a bold, unified message: “AMWJU & EGM condemn repeated assault and intimidation of journalists.” The silent yet powerful protest comes in the wake of a violent incident involving Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel and journalists on duty.
The protest was jointly organised by the Editors’ Guild Manipur (EGM) and the All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU), following the brutal assault on two reporters from Impact TV News. The journalists were covering a public demonstration at Kwakeithel around 10 p.m. on June 7 when they were reportedly attacked by CRPF personnel without provocation.
In response, the two media organisations convened an emergency meeting on June 8 and unanimously resolved to file an FIR against those responsible. They demanded immediate and stringent action to prevent further assaults and intimidations that have increasingly targeted media professionals in the state.
The decision to leave editorial spaces blank was not merely symbolic but a strong reminder of the press’s vital role in a democracy — and the dangers journalists face in the line of duty. Both EGM and AMWJU have called on the authorities to act swiftly to ensure accountability and to restore a safe working environment for the press in Manipur.
This coordinated blackout marks one of the rare moments in Indian journalism where the entire editorial community of a region has responded with a unified and visible protest, underlining the urgency of press freedom and the safety of journalists in conflict-prone regions.
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