Outraged by an order to conceal the state’s name from a media vehicle, journalists in Manipur staged a protest outside Raj Bhavan and announced a strike, intensifying scrutiny of security operations and coordination in the state.
BY PC Bureau
May 20, 2025
Journalists under the banner of the All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) and Editors Guild Manipur (EGM) staged a protest outside Raj Bhavan in Imphal on Tuesday evening, condemning what they called an affront to press freedom and Manipur’s cultural identity.
The protest followed a troubling incident earlier in the day, when security personnel at the Gwaltabi checkpoint in Imphal East allegedly ordered a government media team to conceal the words “Manipur State Transport” on their bus. The journalists were en route to Ukhrul district to cover the inauguration of the Shirui Lily Festival, a state-sponsored cultural event.
The incident occurred approximately 25 kilometers from Imphal, as the team was traveling to report on the festival’s opening. The Shirui Lily Festival, which resumed this year after a two-year hiatus due to ethnic unrest, celebrates the endangered Shirui Lily—the state flower of Manipur—and is organized by the Manipur Tourism Department.
READ: COCOMI: Army Undermining Manipur’s Civil Authority
Held in the Naga-majority Ukhrul district, the festival has become a symbol of hope and an early test of peacebuilding efforts following the 2023 ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities. Manipur has been under President’s Rule since that conflict began in May 2023.
#Update: Journalists protested at Raj Bhawan, Imphal for the inappropriate intention against the MST buses (who were carrying Journalists) of Manipur. #Incident: Maha Regiment (Indian Army) asked the MST bus to remove/cover the word ‘Manipur’ while travelling within the state. https://t.co/THcu2gUdsx pic.twitter.com/kJk3d5d4oA
— Johnson (@johnson63866214) May 20, 2025
The media team—comprising about 20 journalists and staff from the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR)—left Imphal at 6:30 a.m. in a government-arranged vehicle marked with “Manipur State Transport.” They passed through three checkpoints without issue. However, at Gwaltabi, personnel from the 4 Mahar Regiment, supported by the Border Security Force (BSF), reportedly stopped the vehicle and instructed the journalists to obscure the word “Manipur” before being allowed to proceed.
Stunned by the order and unable to justify the request, the journalists initially attempted to negotiate but ultimately chose to return to Imphal. They later arranged alternative transport to complete their assignment independently.
ALSO READ: COCOMI: Army Undermining Manipur’s Civil Authority
The incident triggered widespread outrage. At an emergency meeting held Tuesday afternoon at the Manipur Press Club, AMWJU and EGM jointly announced a “pen-down strike” for May 21, suspending all routine journalistic duties. They also declared a boycott of news coverage related to both the Manipur State Government and Central security forces until the matter is resolved. A memorandum was submitted to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, demanding accountability and punitive action against the security personnel involved.
Signed by AMWJU General Secretary Khwairakpam Naoba and EGM Secretary General Yumnam Rupachandra, the memorandum raised larger questions about governance and press freedom in Manipur. It criticized the lack of coordination between civilian authorities and armed forces, noting that the DIPR bus was part of an officially sanctioned trip to cover a government event inaugurated by the Governor himself.
The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), a prominent Meitei civil society group, strongly condemned the incident, calling it “a deliberate attempt to delegitimize the authority and very existence of the state of Manipur within its own territory.”
🚨 Free movement in #Manipur? Just a rumor.
Journalists covering #ShiruiLilyFestival told to hide “Manipur State Transport” & sent back by security forces under @HMOIndia.
Such an unacceptable act derailed the fragile normalcy in the midst of #ManipurCrisis. pic.twitter.com/OoJRdIbN1A
— Ratan Khuman (@ratankhuman) May 20, 2025
Lok Sabha MP from Manipur, Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, described the incident as “absolutely unacceptable,” adding that it fueled concerns over alleged complicity between certain Central security personnel and forces working to undermine Manipur’s identity. He urged immediate disciplinary action and criticized the chronic lack of coordination plaguing the state’s crisis management.
The All India Congress Committee (AICC) also responded, with spokesperson Ningombam Bupenda Meitei pointing to long-standing curbs on free movement since May 2023. He accused both the Union Government and the state administration of failing to protect the fundamental rights of citizens, including freedom of movement and press.
ALSO READ: ED Probes EaseMyTrip CEO Pitti in ₹6,000 Cr Betting Scam
Social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) reflected widespread public outrage. Users described the incident as a “direct insult to Manipur’s identity” and called for national media coverage. Some posts highlighted the broader implications for press freedom and the fragile cultural unity of the state.
The Shirui Lily Festival, scheduled from May 20–24, had already been marked by tensions. Nearly 2,000 personnel from the Army and BSF were deployed along National Highway 202, which connects Imphal to Ukhrul. Meitei attendees from the Valley must pass through six Kuki-Zo villages—Mongneljang, Gwaltabi, Zalenbung, Mongot-Chepu, Litan, and Sareikhong—raising security concerns. Though the Manipur Police dismissed earlier threats allegedly issued by Kuki-affiliated groups, the Army’s actions at Gwaltabi have cast doubt on those assurances.
READ: J&K Gears Up for High-Security Amarnath Yatra
Despite these tensions, the festival was inaugurated on Tuesday by Governor Bhalla at Heritage Ground in Ukhrul’s Vangayan village. The event, which features cultural performances, concerts, and eco-tourism activities, aims to raise awareness about the Shirui Lily and promote sustainable tourism in the region. Yet the controversy surrounding the harassment of journalists has now shifted attention to deeper concerns about governance, civil-military relations, and identity politics.
As protests unfolded outside Raj Bhavan, AMWJU and EGM announced a General Body Meeting scheduled for May 21 at 11:00 a.m. at the Manipur Press Club to determine further steps. A rally is also being planned to submit another memorandum to the Governor.
An official response from the Indian Army regarding the incident is still awaited.
