Media persons in Manipur will surrender identity cards issued to them by state authorities in protest against the govt’s failure in punishing police commandos who allegedly harassed, detained and assaulted two journalists on 10th Oct.

The decision to return the I-cards to the Directorate of Information and Public Relations department was taken at a joint meeting of the All Manipur Working Journalists Union (AMWJU) and editors of local dailies on Sunday, an AMWJU spokesman said in Imphal on Monday.

The spokesman said that the AMWJU had also submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh through Governor Gurbachan Jagat on Saturday, requesting him to direct the state government to bring to book the commandos involved in the incident.

He said the AMWJU has also demanded transfer of senior police officials of Imphal West district police station to which the commandos belonged.

The I-cards will be returned on Tuesday and if still no action is taken against the commandos, the Manipur Press Club building will also be handed over to the state government, he said.

On 10th October, two journalists were allegedly harassed, detained and assaulted by police commandos while returning home from duty even after they showed their I-cards at Waheng Leikai area in Imphal.