Manipur journalist beaten up by securitymen

Imphal, Feb 12 : A

of an English daily was allegedly beaten up by securitymen who mistook him for a thief at Kangla Western Gate area here, official sources said on Wednesday.

Aribam Dhananjoy alias Chaoba, a reporter of 'Imphal Free Press', was beaten up allegedly by personnel of the India Reserve Battalion while he was returning home from office at about 11.30 PM on Tuesday night, they said.

Chaoba told the security personnel that he was a journalist but security personnel insisted that he was a thief moving around late night and beat him up.He was later taken to the J N Hospital and discharged after first aid.

The Indian Reserve Battalion was not available for comment.

Later the journalist lodged a complaint with the police. The All Manipur Working Journalists Union condemned the attack on Chaoba and urged the state government to prevent frequent attacks on scribes by drunken security personnel.

PTI