Five Meghalaya journos detained in Assam, MEPA condemns incident

SHILLONG: 

The Meghalaya Editors’ and Publishers’ Association (MEPA) has condemned the act of Assam police for detaining five journalists from Ri Bhoi district on Tuesday at around 4 pm.

The five Meghalaya-based journos were returning to Nongpoh from a village of Iongkhuli under Jirang constituency, Meghalaya to cover the incident of a border skirmish with Assam. 

"Since the road from Jirang to Nongpoh was worn out, we decided to return via Assam and that was when we were stopped by cops who demanded our documents. When they found that we had all the relevant documents, they started accusing us of violating COVID protocols and demanded Rs 2000 from us," said one of the detained journalists from Ri Bhoi, Eric C Ranee. 

After they refused to pay the money, they were taken to Azara Police Station situated in the Meghalaya-Assam border and were kept there for at least more than an hour before being released. 

"It was only after we called up our president of the Shillong Press Club, David Laitphlang that the matter was resolved and we were let go," Ranee said. 

In a statement issued here, the MEPA has urged Assam police to allow the journalists to perform their duties freely.

(Edited by Ibankyntiew Mawrie)

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