In a grave incident concerning press freedom, armed assailants attacked Khoirom Loyalakpa, Editor-in-Chief of Naharolgi Thoudang, on Wednesday night in Imphal East district. The attack occurred around 10 PM near Hatta War Cemetery when a presumed Maruti Swift intercepting Loyalakpa’s vehicle. The attackers fired two shots at his car’s left window before forcibly dragging him out and assaulting him, resulting in facial and dental injuries. They escaped as locals responded to the gunfire. Police recovered .32 calibre bullet shells at the scene and have opened an investigation, although the motives for the attack remain uncertain.
Loyalakpa, who also heads the Manipur Hockey Association, has previously faced threats, including an incident in July 2024 when shots were fired at his home. His security was reportedly withdrawn last year amid ongoing threats from armed groups. The All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) and the Editors’ Guild of Manipur (EGM) condemned the attack, labeling it an assault on the media. An emergency meeting led to a planned sit-in protest the following day. As of the latest report, no arrests have been made, and the investigation continues.
