Mokokchung Press Club (MPC) has strongly condemned the illicit body frisking and unlawful vehicle searching perpetrated on the press and media personnel allegedly by unauthorised group of women in Mongsenyimti village on February 22, while they were on their way to report an election-related event.
MPC stated that the press personnel, as professionals, reasoned with the women and produced their ECI media identity cards issued by the chief electoral officer for free movement of media personnel, which the women did not honour. They also produced their respective media organisational identity cards, which proved futile.
Besides, it claimed that media personnel were forced to move out of the vehicles despite displaying 'PRESS' and 'On Election Duty' sticker issued by the deputy commissioner and district election officer of Mokokchung. It stated that the women then conducted unauthorised body frisking of the media personnel and searched the vehicles.
MPC, while strongly condemning the illicit body frisking and unlawful vehicle searching perpetrated on the press and media personnel, stated that act tantamount to impeding the Constitutional right and freedom of the press. It further urged the deputy commissioner and district election officer of Mokokchung to rein in such unscrupulous elements so as to ensure that freedom of the press in Mokokchung is not subdued.
Dimapur, Feb. 24 (EMN)