Attack on Fourth Estate continues
Ratan Luwangcha suffers two bullet wounds on lower abdomen and another on the left thigh as KCP activists fired at him.
North East News Agency

General Secretary of All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) and the Bureau Chief of Poknapham Ratan Luwangcha suffered serious injuries when unidentified gunmen fired at him from a close range.  

According to reports, Ratan along with a friend was reading the morning newspapers when three youths fired about three rounds from close range. The attack took place at the victim’s residence. The assailants arrived in a white Kinetic Honda. Eye witnesses informed that three youths moving around in the vehicle and inquiring the address of Ratan’s residence before committing the crime. After reaching to Ratan’s house, one stayed put near the Kinetic Honda with the engine still running the other two approached Ratan and opened fire.

Ratan suffered two bullet wounds on lower abdomen and another on the left thigh. Both the bullets pierced through. He was rushed to Shija Hospitals where doctors conducted an emergency operation on him. Ratan is the fourth member from the fourth estate to be attacked by the underground forces. Earlier three editors have been shot dead in the State.

Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) has claimed responsibility for the attack. It may be mentioned here that not very long ago, a senior journalist was attacked by underground forces in Nagaland.  Following the attack on Ratan, newspaper houses in Imphal and local TV news network ISTV ceased publication and broadcasting in protest. A sit-in-protest was also held for two days at Keishampat.

In a representation submitted to Chief Minister Ibobi Singh, AMWJU and Editors’ Forum expressed dismay over the situation in which armed persons could shoot a  person in broad daylight in the capital and make good their escape. The forums urged the State authority to provide a secure environment for the media community to function freely and fearlessly. Condemnations have also poured in from various quarters. The staff and management of Poknapham have strongly decried the incident and demanded a clarification from the group concerned for the attack.

All Naga Students Association, Manipur said that the attack should be condemned by all and termed it as barbaric. AMSU termed the attack as an act of terrorism and urged those responsible to state the reason for the diabolic attack.

Uripok (Bachaspati and Sinam Leikai) Women’s Association, Union of Social Upliftment (Khurai Lamlong Keithel), United People’s Front and Ethno Heritage Council have strongly condemned the attack. Terming the assault as inhumane and devoid of any logic, a joint release of UPF and Hericoun appealed to all concerned to refrain from such a ghastly act while urging the State Government to take up suitable measures to nab the culprits.   

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