Media Release: India                                                                                       

January 10, 2013                 

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins partners in India in calling on the government in the north-eastern state of Manipur, to publish the findings of an inquiry into the killing of freelance news cameraman Thangjam Nanao Singh.

Nanao Singh who works for India’s state-controlled TV broadcaster, Doordarshan and numerous other channels, died of bullet wounds as he covered a public demonstration on December 23 in Imphal, capital of Manipur state.

A number of social and political organizations had been demonstrating in Manipur demanding the arrest and prosecution of an insurgent leader active in the state, for allegedly assaulting a prominent film personality in full public view a few days earlier.

One such demonstration on December 23 was fired upon by the police, apparently with no prior warning. Nanao Singh, according to eyewitness Bijoy Krishna, also a news cameraman, sought to continue filming the events from behind a pillar, but was hit by a bullet in the chest.

Police only stopped firing after Bijoy Krishna raised an alarm over his injured colleague. Nanao Singh was then shifted to a hospital but died within an hour.

The All-Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) pressured the state administration to order an official inquiry. The report was submitted on January 4, but is yet to be made public.

AMWJU meanwhile has announced its own plans to campaign for better safety and welfare measures for journalists in the state, where the presence of an estimated thirty armed insurgent groups poses unique dangers for the profession.

The IFJ urges the Manipur state government to make its inquiry report public without further delay, to initiate action against those guilty for the killing and to engage in a dialogue with the AMWJU to improve security conditions for journalists in the state.

For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +612 9333 0950

The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131 countries

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