Newspapers fail to hit stands for second day

Newspapers in Manipur failed to hit the stands for the second day on Tuesday in protest against threats from militants.

Media sources said a particular militant outfit which was split into two factions had threatened media houses and journalists if their diktat was not obeyed.

While one faction said their statement should be published the other said media houses would be attacked if the statement was published, sources said.

The All Manipur Working Journalists Union (AMWJU) has appealed to the militant outfits to leave the decision on whether to publish statements issued by them to the editors.

An AMWJU spokesman told newsmen that during its general body meeting yesterday, the union decided to ask all militant outfits operating in Manipur not to disturb the functioning of journalists and media houses in the state at this "crucial period" of history.