Internet shutdown hits media in Manipur

Journalist bodies in Manipur on Wednesday highlighted problems being faced by the print and electronic media houses in a memorandum submitted to the state IPR minister Dr Sapam Ranjan Singh.
While the media houses, both print and electronic media, may cease publication or broadcasting of news over non availability of newsprint and printing materials and also due to the shutting down of internet service, the memorandum also aired the grievances being faced by the correspondents working for outside media houses.
Editors’ Guild Manipur (EGM) and All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) submitted the memorandum to the chief minister through the IPR minister Dr Sapam Ranjan Singh today evening.
While submitting the memorandum, representatives of the journalists’ body told the IPR minister that due to non-availability of news prints and other printing material the print media in the state were unable to render its service to the people during this crisis time.
They further aired the problems being faced by the electronic media due to the prolonged shutting down of the internet services. They said they were unable to update the software for broadcasting of the various channels.
Mention may be made that almost all print media houses in the state are running out of newsprint. Besides, almost all newspapers are reducing their pages currently.
After a patient hearing, the IPR minister assured to discuss the matter with the chief minister and try his best to resolve the problems.
The representatives of the EGM and AMWJU also met with the security advisor to the chief minister Kuldeip Singh and conveyed the message to him.
The advisor told the journalists’ body that the matter will be put up with the concerned authorities of the government.
He said that as the situation was tense in Kangpokpi district, the government was arranging alternative routes through the Imphal-Jiribam route (NH-37).
The journalists’ team also met the commissioner (home) of the state government and apprised him of the problem being faced by the journalists of the state.
He assured the journalist team that the matter for internet connection will be discussed.
To mention here, after shutting down internet services , the state government made a special arrangement for media houses and journalists to access internet service at the DIPR.
However, the internet service at the DIPR did not work on Tuesday and the day before, making the media houses unable to access the internet.
Imphal based correspondents were also unable to file their daily reports. However, the internet service at DIPR resumed on Wednesday evening.