The Naga Journalists Union Manipur (NJUM) has issued the report of its fact-finding team which was constituted to ascertain the facts in regard to the incident where a reporter of Nagaland-based Hornbill TV Dip Saikia was reportedly hit and injured by pellets from an airgun at Laii village in Manipur’s Senapati district on August 30.
In a statement, the NJUM said the team had visited Laii under Tungjoy Police Station, Senapati district and had met the police, village leaders of Laii and also visited the area where Saikia was shot. The fact-finding team also spoke with the accused who was in police custody, as well as Saikia who was undergoing treatment at Guwahati over phone.
Based on the findings, NJUM presented the following: That the accused, a resident of Senapati, was unaware of Saikia’s presence or anyone while shooting the airgun and the incident happened during rainy and foggy weather conditions; The villagers only learned about the incident when the victim was brought to the Laii Primary Health Centre (PHC) for first aid; That the accused voluntarily went to the Laii PHC when he learnt of Saikia being shot, and had apologized to Saikia in the presence of village authority council members and the village headman; He had also shown his willingness to assist while Saikia underwent treatment.
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A first information report (FIR) under Section 109/117 of BNS and 25 (1C) of Arms Act was filed under Tungjoy Police Station on August 31.
According to NJUM, the urgency to verify the story arose from numerous contents flooding social media platforms in addition to the news agencies, some of which went to the extent of taking on a political or ethnic tone in reporting the incident.
“But, most paramount to NJUM has been the frequent harassment and attacks of individuals associated with the fourth estate. NJUM is also aware of the responsibility a journalist is bound with-to tell the true story. Taking all these into account, a three-member fact finding team was formed to verify the story,” the statement said.
The NJUM also acknowledged the prompt action of Senapati Police in detaining the accused.
The union underscored that the fact-finding report is by no means the final verdict but a means to verify the story. “The NJUM is aware that the investigation is still going on and it is willing to co-operate with anybody who wishes to further verify the incident,” the NJUM stated.
While condemning the blatant use of devices/weapons (in this case an airgun) in public areas that has the potential to cause extensive harm, even to the extent of causing death, the NJUM urged for a fair and just investigation to bring all the responsible person(s) to book.
