Manipur violence: SC extends protection from arrest to fact-finding team of journalists

New Delhi [India], September 15 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Friday extended interim protection for two weeks to the president and fact-finding team members of the Editors Guild of India (EGI) in relation to the two FIRs registered against them by the Manipur police.
A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra extended the operation of its order passed on September 6 on the plea of the EGI.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Manipur government, told the bench that EGI members may be protected for some more time and asked it to transfer the matter for quashing of FIRs to the Delhi High Court for adjudication.
The bench also sought the response of the complainant, who had filed the FIRs against the EGI and its members, asking how the offence of promoting enmity between different ethnic groups was made out against them.
Editors Guild of India approached the Supreme Court seeking quashing of two FIRs registered by Manipur police against its president and its fact-finding team over the report on the violence in the State.
The Guild’s 24-page report was released on September 2. The fact-finding team was sent to Manipur to examine the media reportage in the state from August 7 to 10.
The Manipur Police registered an FIR against Guild's President Seema Mustafa, and three of its members – Seema Guha, Bharat Bhushan and Sanjay Kapoor – who were part of the fact-finding team that visited Manipur to examine how media in the state was reporting the violence. They had concluded that local news reports about the riots were biased.
The first FIR is based on a complaint filed by one Ngangom Sarat Singh who has described the report as “ false, fabricated and sponsored”. The second FIR was registered against the four members of the Guild, with the additional charge of defamation.
The plea sought directions to quash two FIRs registered by the Manipur police against Guild's members.
The top court is seized of the cases relating to the violence in Manipur between Meitei and Kuki communities.
The violence in Manipur between the Hindu Meiteis and the tribal Kuki, who are Christians, erupted after a rally by the All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM) on May 3.
Violence has gripped the entire state since May and the Central government had to deploy paramilitary forces to bring the situation under control. (ANI)