Itanagar, Feb 21: The Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) has strongly condemned the shocking and cowardly attack on Khoirom Loyalakpa, editor of a local newspaper in Manipur’s Imphal East district, where armed assailants allegedly fired gunshots at his vehicle and physically assaulted him on Wednesday night near the Hatta cemetery.
This violent act is a grave assault on the freedom of the press and an alarming reminder of the risks journalists continue to face while performing their professional duties. Targeting a journalist in such a manner not only endangers an individual life but also seeks to intimidate the media fraternity at large and undermine democratic values, it said.
APUWJ expressed deep concern over the incident and urged the law enforcement agencies to conduct a swift, transparent, and thorough investigation to identify and bring the perpetrators to justice at the earliest. “Ensuring the safety and security of journalists is paramount, and any attack on media persons must be dealt with firmly and decisively.”
"The APUWJ stands in full solidarity with All Manipur Working Journalists Union (AMWJU) and the entire journalist fraternity of Manipur during this difficult time. We also extend our support and best wishes for the speedy recovery and safety of Khoirom Loyalakpa," the Arunachal journalists' body said in a statement.