Nagaland journalist shot at in Manipur; one arrested
A Nagaland-based journalist was shot at Manipur while he was reporting at a flower festival in Manipur. The incident took place on Saturday, when a group of assailants attacked him, leaving him severely injured.
New Delhi: In a shocking incident, a Nagaland-based reporter in a satelite news channel Hornbill TV was shot at on Saturday. This comes days after the victim was targeted by the deputy chief minister of Nagaland at a press conference. One person has been arrested in the case.
The incident took place on Saturday evening during the ‘Zinnia Flower Festival’ or ‘Cherry Blossom Festival’ at Laii village. The journalist, identified as Dip Saikia, sustained bullet injuries after some armed miscreants opened fire around 4 pm, hitting him in the right leg and under the armpit.
A few days ago, he was publicly rebuked by Y Patton, who was upset with him for interviewing former BJP spokesperson M Kikon, who recently quit the party, reports say.
Channel demands thorough investigation
Condemning the attack on Dip Saikia, the HornbillTV Editor Dzuthono Mekru said in a statement, "The shooting of Saikia during a cultural event is not only an assault on his person but also a direct attack on press freedom and the democratic values we uphold.”
The satellite TV demanded a thorough and detailed investigation into the attack. The assailant was reportedly apprehended by the villagers and was being questioned at the time of filing the report.
What led to controversy
A few days ago, Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister Yanthungo Patton had came under fire from multiple journalist associations after he was accused of publicly berating and humiliating Saikia during a public meeting at Wokha district on August 23. The incident resulted in strong condemnation across the Northeast, with press clubs and media bodies demanding accountability and safeguards for reporters.
The Manipur Digital Media Association (MDMA) issued a scathing resolution on August 25, labelling Patton’s behavior an "outrageous conduct” that endangered the press freedom and the personal safety of the journalist.