Multiple shots were fired at the residence of Khoirom Loyalakpa, the editor of Manipur daily Naharolgi Thoudang, in Imphal East district in the early hours of Tuesday.

Loyalakpa is also the cousin of Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh, who was earlier the editor of the newspaper. He was at his office, 10 km away from his house, at the time of the attack. Loyalakpa’s security cover was removed on June 5, the day his paper published a piece on demands by certain leaders within the BJP’s Manipur unit to replace Manipur CM N Biren Singh in the wake of the NDA losing both the Lok Sabha seats in state to the Congress.

Recalling the incident, Loyalakpa’s daughter Linthoi Khoirom said “it was just the four of us at home that night, all women”,  when “five to six” gunshots were fired. “I remember turning to my sister-in-law, puzzled, asking what it could be. At first, we thought something had fallen. But then we realised that it was the sound of gunshots, echoing from the front gate…It was terrifying, giving us a sense of the ongoing violence in Manipur that has continued for over a year now.”

“We then called our neighbours to ask about the gunshots. One of them told us that a car had stopped outside our house, and a man got out and fired in our direction. We heard five to six gunshots. After shooting at our house, the gunman quickly left in the car. We called my father and warned him not to come home… However, he didn't listen and returned around 1 am. We also called the police around 12.30 am, but they didn't arrive until 6 in the morning,” Linthoi claimed.

Imphal East SP K Meghachandra Singh said a case has been filed and police probe has begun. “It’s been handled by senior police officers. I myself went to the spot for the initial investigation. CCTV cameras of Mr Khoirom and his neighbour were not  operational, therefore we are checking the other CCTV cameras in the area to find out the culprits. It seems they just want to threaten him because the bullets were fired at least 30 metres away from his house.”  

A report and Loyalakpa’s security cover

Loyalakpa said “anyone” could be behind the attack. “After my security was removed, I noticed two vehicles following me on my way home from the office on the night of June 6. Realising I was being followed, I took a U-turn and returned to my office instead of going home. I’m not sure who might have attacked my house. It could be anyone.”

The 60-year-old had earlier written to the All Manipur Working Journalist Union to raise the issue of his security cover, claiming that he had been given security – first in 2012, and then extended in 2017 until it was removed on June 5 – due to repeated threats by unknown miscreants. “In a distressing turn of events, security personnel, including three civil commandos, deputed by the Manipur government were abruptly withdrawn from my residence without any explanation on the evening of June 5.”

Loyalakpa, who is also a cousin of Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh, began his career as a reporter with local newspaper Kangleipak Meira in 1988. He joined Naharolgi Thoudang in 1996 – when Singh began publishing the news daily as its editor. The latter ran the paper until he was elected as an MLA in 2001. Loyolakpa then took charge of the top post.

The day his security cover was withdrawn, his paper had carried a report on demands for Biren Singh’s replacement. Such speculation has repeatedly found its way into media reports. Earlier this month, Singh had dismissed rumours that his party MLAs were in Delhi to press for such a demand. 

“Majority of the BJP MLAs, including a few ministers from the BJP, are likely to demand for the replacement of Chief Minister N Biren immediately. If the chief minister is not replaced then the party is likely to split, according to an agency report. The knives are out after two candidates of the BJP and NPF alliance trailed far behind Congress rivals in the recent Lok Sabha election. Although there are no specific reports of replacement of the chief minister in such a chaos, if the majority of BJPs MLA quit the party, then the fate of the government will be unpredictable, according to an agency report,” read the report in Naharolgi Thoudang.

‘Journalists not safe’

Borun Thokcham, an Imphal-based journalist and member of AMWJU, said, “If a senior and reputed journalist like him can be attacked then just think about young journalists like us… if journalists will be targeted for their criticism of the government, then  it’s not a sign of a healthy democracy.”   

Bobo Khuraijam, a journalist and documentary filmmaker based in Manipur, said that the situation in Manipur has become “highly volatile”. “Some individuals with vested interests are exploiting this situation, where military-grade weapons have fallen into civilian hands. It’s regrettable that the home of an eminent journalist has been attacked. In this current climate, anyone could perpetrate such attacks for personal gain and vested interests. Unfortunately, these attacks are not isolated, they have become the norm in Manipur”.

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