Manipur is shouting over a covered sign, but whispered through Laba’s abduction. What does it say about our values when we rally for symbolism but ignore threats to real journalistic freedom?
BY Navin Upadhyay
May 21, 2025 – On February 12 this year, senior journalist Yambem Laba was abducted at gunpoint and forced to offer a public apology. The silence that followed from Manipur’s civil society and media houses was deafening. No street protests. No press meets. No urgent editorials demanding justice. For a state that prides itself on its fierce defence of identity and rights, the muted response raised an uncomfortable question: Does our outrage have favourites?
Fast forward to May 20. A bus carrying journalists to the 5th Shirui Lily Festival in Ukhrul district had its “Manipur State Transport” signage forcibly covered by security forces, reportedly for security reasons, at Gwaltabi, Imphal East. The act, seen as an affront to the state’s identity and freedom of the press, triggered a firestorm of protests across the state. Journalists, civil society groups, and political leaders united in outrage, condemning the act as a grave insult to Manipur.
The contrast between the two incidents is striking—and telling.
The signage incident deserves scrutiny, and yes, the army must clarify its reasons for the action. But even as we wait to hear their side, one must ask: Where was this unity of voice when Laba, a veteran journalist, was abducted in broad daylight? Where were the solidarity marches and panel discussions then?
The selective nature of our collective voice is beginning to mirror the fractured landscape of Manipur’s social fabric—a society quick to erupt in anger over symbols, but hesitant when the real battle is about justice and fearlessness in journalism.
In a democracy, it is vital to question power—be it the barrel of a gun or the silence of complicity. But we must also question ourselves: Do we value our principles consistently, or only when they serve our tribe, our narrative, our cause?
READ: SPECIAL STORY –Manipur Press Freedom Under Peril: Why No Arrests in Laba’s Kidnapping?
Laba’s Abduction:
Laba, known for his fearless reporting on sensitive issues in Manipur, was forcibly taken by nearly two dozen armed men from his home. Three months later, the Manipur Police have yet to apprehend any suspects. An online query by Power Corridors, seeking information on the action taken by the police, including the identification and arrest of those responsible, remains unanswered even after 14 weeks. Somehow, such a serious matter—where militants forced a journalist to promise he would never open his mouth again on TV channels or in public debates on sensitive issues—elicited no outcry. The same voices—including the All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU), the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), Congress MP A. Bimol Akoijam, former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, and hundreds of journalists—remained conspicuously silent.
This apathy highlights a troubling reluctance to confront valley-based militant groups, exposing the complex interplay of fear, politics, and selective activism in Manipur’s volatile socio-political landscape.
Normal life crippled in Manipur on Thursday following a 48-hour general strike called by a conglomerate of Meitei groups in protest against security personnel alleged instruction to cover the word Manipur from a state transport bus ferrying journalists to the Shirui Lily Festival pic.twitter.com/B8tN92hc9J
— Jon Suante (@jon_suante) May 22, 2025
READ: Bandh Deepens Manipur’s Ethnic Fault Lines as Hills Defy Call
The Bus Signage Incident: A Unified Uproar
On May 20, 2025, a bus arranged by the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) to transport 20 journalists and officials to cover the Shirui Lily Festival was halted at a security checkpoint in Gwaltabi, manned by personnel from the 4 Mahar Regiment and Border Security Force (BSF). According to eyewitnesses, the security forces ordered the media team to cover the “Manipur State Transport” signage on the bus’s front display with white paper—an act captured in a viral video that sparked widespread outrage. The team faced multiple checkpoints en route to Ukhrul and was ultimately forced to return to Imphal, unable to cover the festival. The incident was perceived as a deliberate attempt to erase Manipur’s identity, striking a nerve in a state already grappling with ethnic tensions and central governance under President’s Rule.
The response was swift and forceful. The All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU), alongside the Editors Guild Manipur (EGM), condemned the incident as a “gross violation of press freedom” and an insult to Manipur’s sovereignty. On May 20, journalists staged a protest outside the DIPR office in Imphal, holding placards and chanting slogans against the security forces. The AMWJU announced a pen-down strike on May 21 and a boycott of government-related news, including coverage of state and central forces, until accountability was ensured. In a memorandum to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, the AMWJU demanded a high-level inquiry and strict action against the personnel involved, stating, “This act not only humiliated the media but also undermined the dignity of Manipur.”
COCOMI, a prominent Meitei civil society group, escalated the protests by calling for a 48-hour statewide bandh starting at midnight on May 22, 2025. COCOMI convenor Khuraijam Athouba labeled the incident a “deliberate attack on Manipur’s sovereign administrative authority” and demanded a formal apology from the Governor, as well as the resignation of senior officials, including Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh, Director General of Police Rajiv Singh, and the Chief Secretary. “This is an alien administration that disrespects our identity,” Athouba declared, urging Manipuris to join the shutdown to protect the state’s pride.
Manipur: Signboard Stirs Rage, kidnapping Doesn’t
The Indian Journalists Union, which never took cognizance of Laba’s abduction, also reacted—condemning the “treatment” meted out to the media fraternity. Mind you, here no one was assaulted or mistreated—only the signage was removed for security “reasons,” because Manipur transport buses were not allowed to travel on the highways through Kabuki-dominated areas. There was always this danger that they could have invited sniper fire from armed outfits opposed to the Shirui Lily Festival celebration.
READ: Kuki-Chin Forum Demands Justice After Alleged Torture, Killing of 10 PDO Members
Political leaders across party lines also joined the outcry. Former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, who resigned on February 9, 2025, took to X to call the incident “shameful” and a “blow to Manipur’s dignity,” pledging solidarity with the media and demanding accountability. Congress MP A. Bimol Akoijam, a vocal critic of central governance, framed the incident as part of broader institutional failures in Manipur, stating in a press conference, “This is not just about a bus; it’s about the systematic erosion of our state’s autonomy.” BJP Rajya Sabha MP Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba also condemned the act, emphasizing Manipur’s integral status within India but calling for sensitivity from security forces. Hundreds of journalists, activists, and citizens rallied in Imphal, amplifying the narrative of state pride under threat.
Governor Bhalla responded promptly, announcing the formation of an inquiry committee to investigate the circumstances leading to the directive to cover the signage, the conduct of the security personnel, and any procedural lapses or misunderstandings. The committee is expected to submit its findings soon, with the Governor’s office emphasizing transparency and accountability.
Yambem Laba’s Abduction: A Deafening Silence
In stark contrast, the abduction of Yambem Laba—also a former member of the Manipur Human Rights Commission—elicited no such collective response. Despite the gravity of this direct assault on press freedom, the AMWJU issued no public condemnation or organized protests, a marked departure from their swift mobilization in the bus incident. COCOMI, which rallied thousands against the signage issue, remained silent on Laba’s abduction, offering no statement or action in support of the journalist. N. Biren Singh, a frequent target of Laba’s critical writings, made no public comment, despite his later vocal support for the media in May. A. Bimol Akoijam, known for his outspoken critiques of violence and governance failures in Manipur, also did not address Laba’s abduction publicly, missing an opportunity to champion press freedom. The broader media fraternity in Manipur, including the hundreds of journalists who protested the bus incident, offered no collective response to Laba’s ordeal.
The only notable condemnation came from the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), an international media safety organization. PEC President Blaise Lempen demanded Laba’s “immediate and unconditional release,” stating, “No journalist should face physical intimidation for their views, which are legally and logically expressed.” PEC’s South Asia representative, Nava Thakuria, echoed this call, highlighting the risks faced by journalists in Manipur’s conflict-ridden environment. Yet, this international outcry stood in stark contrast to the local silence.
Fear, Politics, and Selective Activism
The contrasting responses to these two incidents reveal a troubling pattern of selective outrage in Manipur. The bus signage incident provided a safe target for criticism: central security forces, operating under President’s Rule imposed on February 13, 2025, are an external entity, making them easier to challenge without risking local backlash. The act of covering the state’s name resonated with Meitei sentiments of pride and sovereignty, aligning with COCOMI’s agenda and the media’s narrative of defending Manipur’s identity. The unified response from AMWJU, COCOMI, Singh, Akoijam, and others reflects a low-risk opportunity to assert state pride against a perceived central overreach.
Laba’s abduction, however, posed a far greater risk. The UNLF, a valley-based Meitei militant group, holds significant influence in Imphal and surrounding areas. Manipur’s ethnic violence since May 2023, which has killed over 260 people and displaced thousands, has deepened divisions between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, with valley-based groups like the UNLF wielding power in Meitei-dominated areas. Criticizing the UNLF could invite retaliation, a reality underscored by Laba’s forced apology. For the AMWJU, protecting its members from militant backlash may have outweighed the need to defend Laba, especially given his critical stance toward local power structures. COCOMI’s silence likely reflects its alignment with Meitei interests, avoiding confrontation with a group that shares its ethnic base. Singh’s lack of response may stem from his political vulnerabilities post-resignation, while Akoijam’s silence could indicate a strategic choice to avoid antagonizing valley-based groups amid his broader advocacy.
In fact, no one came to Laba’s rescue when his house in Imphal was bombed six months ago on September 24, 2024. An explosive device was hurled at his residence, causing damage but thankfully no injuries. The attack demonstrated a pattern of targeting journalists and their families in an attempt to silence critical voices and suppress freedom of the press within the state. Sadly, no one stood by Laba at that time either.
This selective activism undermines press freedom in Manipur. The media’s willingness to challenge central forces but not local militants suggests a hierarchy of risks, where external actors are fair game, but valley-based groups are untouchable.
