Skip to content Skip to navigation

Nagaland press reacts to suspicious media initiative

The Nagaland Press Association (NPA) expressed worries over the formation of a State chapter of Newspapers Association of India (NAI) and submission of a memorandum to the State Governor PB Acharya recently at Raj Bhawan without engaging the local journalists of Nagaland based newspapers.

“The memorandum to Governor Acharya was forwarded by one Monojit Singha, introduced as the convener of NAI’s northeast zonal committee. He was accompanied by Thungchamo Humtsoe claiming to be the Nagaland State coordinator of the NAI,” said a statement issued by the NPA. It may be noted that the memorandum was personally received by Governor Acharya on 18 April 2017. Moreover, the Nagaland chief secretary has directed the concerned department to look into the matter and take necessary actions.

“We are shocked that the so called NAI has formed its Nagaland chapter and met the head of State without even bothering to inform and coordinate with the existing newspapers published from Nagaland. None of the functional newspapers in the State are aware of this initiative. Moreover, it is verified that the office bearers of the forum are not affiliated to any local newspaper,” added the statement. The NPA asserted that no matter the concern or good intention it may have, it cannot accept the manner in which the NAI has taken such a step to connect with the Nagaland government through the backdoor and more disturbingly engaging with local youths, who have no credibility or authority to represent the existing newspapers.

One youth by the name C. Atsaba Sangtam is the State president of the NAI’s Nagaland chapter while Chichamo Humtsoe has been authorized as the State vice-president and Thungchamo Humtsoe as the State general secretary,” revealed the statement adding that they are not recognized working journalists.

The NPA expressed utter dismay that the office of the State Governor, State chief secretary and DIPR did not find it worthwhile to cross-check and verify with the working editors and publishers of newspapers in Nagaland. Instead, the government in Kohima has gone to the extent of entertaining such organizations who come through the backdoor and whose representatives have no connection at all with the local media, it maintained.

Finally the association urged the State government to carefully scrutinize the genuineness and credibility of any organization like the one in question before it entertains officially and clarify the matter in order to protect the image and credentials of the genuine media persons in the State.

Add new comment

Random Stories

Eye check-up camp for scribes

24 Oct 2009 - 6:32am | editor
Sri Sankardeva Nethralaya, in association with Guwahati Press Club has organized an eye check-up camp for scribes on October 29. The camp, to be held on the press club campus will begin at 9.30 AM....

National Integration Tour Flagged Off

2 Jul 2013 - 8:10pm | Anup Biswas
Commemorating the first Anniversary of Raising of Inspector general Assam Rifles (East), a National Integration Tour to Delhi Agra and Mathura was flagged off by the  Chairman, Dima Hasao...

Summit stresses mass participation

29 Mar 2015 - 10:58am | Chong Hmar
Awareness building and leader’s roundtable discussion on approaches to the demand of the Indigenous Peoples’ Forum (IPF) of N.C. Hills and challenges simultaneously, with a particular focus on...

KAAC elections 2011

13 Oct 2011 - 2:17am | brahma2011
The Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) election which likely to be held on second week of the December, 2011 has started to heat up in the ruling Congress party camp. Keeping aim to return in...

Other Contents by Author

We are deeply concerned about the continuing ethnic violence in Manipur between the Meitei community and the tribal Kuki and Zo communities. We demand an immediate halt to this violence that is causing large scale disruption of lives, livelihoods and properties and unleashing even more terror among people. The immediate trigger to this violence was an April 2023 Manipur High Court order advising the state government to grant the Meitei community (members of which now have either OBC or in some cases SC status) the status of Scheduled Tribe. Thereby, the Meitei community would have access to land that is currently reserved for tribal communities. Several spates of violence broke...
Assam TMC chief Ripun Bora on Thursday in a couple of tweets expressed his angst for the inaction of the Central Government in not taking any steps to investigate into the alleged links between Assam CM Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma and BJP leader Ram Madhav with terrorist outfit. In a tweet, Bora questions the credibility of the Government of India as it has been using central agencies like CBI & ED against opposition leaders all the time. Then why is GOI silent on the allegations of Assam CM Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma being involved with Kuki militants in the Manipur election in 2017? Bora demanded a NIA probe into the allegations and arrest of Sarma under NSA Act. Meanwhile, he also stated...
Here's an appeal for donations for the relief effort currently being undertaken by  by Rural Women Upiftment Society, Manipur. Online donations can be made to the organisation through at https://milaap.org/fundraisers/support-rural-women-upliftment-society . Dear friends, The devastating ethnic violence and arson that unfolded in Manipur since May 3rd, 2023, have left a trail of destruction, claiming the lives of over 100 people, injuring more than 5,000, and displacing an estimated 70,000 individuals. Numerous homes, villages, and churches have been reduced to ashes, leaving families without shelter or land to return to. The situation is dire and urgent...
In a devastating incident on 2 June 2023, three trains collided near the city of Balasore in Odisha, resulting in a catastrophic loss of life and a large number of injuries. The collision involved the 12841 Coromandel Express, the 12864 SMVT Bengaluru–Howrah SF Express, and a goods train near the Bahanaga Bazar railway station. The incident has sent shockwaves throughout the country, and questions are being raised about the safety measures in place within the Indian Railways. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has previously published an audit report exposing the neglect of crucial rail safety by the Modi government and Rail Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. The report revealed...
Guwahati: The All Assam Engineers' Association (AAEA) has strongly called for the demarcation of the Assam Engineering College campus and the construction of a solid boundary wall to safeguard the prestigious institution in Jalukbari, Northeast India. The organization, while expressing condolences for the recent tragic incident that claimed the lives of seven AEC students, emphasized the need for a secure residential campus where hostel residents cannot venture out after specified evening hours. Following the incident, concerns were raised regarding security measures at the college. The AAEA's statement highlighted the fact that the AEC campus is no longer isolated as it was decades ago...
An undying orgy of violence in Manipur puts Chief Minister N Biren Singh in a tough time to continue his second consecutive term.  Highly placed sources have said the escalating tension in the BJP-ruled north eastern state is forcing the party leadership to consider a change in the state government leadership as an urgent measure to help the state bail out of the crisis that has left 53000 people homeless so far. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who is on a four-day visit to the restive state, is learnt to have been considering all  possible aspects to quell the situation.  The symbolic anthem “We Shall Overcome” reverberated the air filled with tears and fears. All...
Guwahati: Expressing profound grief at the demise of seven brilliant students of Assam Engineering College (AEC) in a tragic late-night accident on 29 May 2023, All Assam Engineer’s Association (AAEA) urges the college authority to impose some basic disciplinary measures urgently. The forum of graduate engineers (many of them AECians) also wishes an early recovery to all the injured students and others in the fatal road mishap.  The AEC Hostel 7 boarders were returning to the residential college campus from western part of the city and faced the accident near the Jalukbari overbridge. The luxury car carrying ten students hit the divider first and then a goods carrier on the other...
In Manipur, tensions have reached a critical point as demands for the removal of Chief Minister Biren Singh or the appointment of a Kuki MLA as Deputy Chief Minister have escalated. The situation took a turn for the worse a day before the scheduled visit of Home Minister Amit Shah, as sporadic gunshots were reported throughout the region. Chief Minister Biren Singh, amidst the growing unrest, has made a bold claim, stating that security forces have successfully eliminated 40 militants since the conflict began. However, these assertions have not been independently verified, leaving room for skepticism and further fueling the already volatile atmosphere. A surge in violence was...
In a tragic road accident that occurred in the Jalukbari area of Guwahati seven engineering students died at spot last night. According to reports, a group of 10 Assam Engineering College (AEC) students traveled in a scorpio car. Seven of the students died after their vehicle colliding with a bolero pick-up van.  Besides, five others including the driver and handyman of the pick-up van were seriously injured in the accident. The deceased students hailed from different parts of the state including Guwahati. They were identified as Kaushik Barua (Mangaldoi), Kaushik Mohan (Sivasagar), Raj Kiran Bhuyan (Majuli), Imon Barua (Dibrugah), Arindam Bhowal (Guwahati), Upanshu Sarma (Nagaon), and...
In a show of solidarity, Manipur fire service personnel commenced an indefinite cease-work strike on Tuesday to protest against the assault on their colleagues by personnel belonging to the 16 Jat Regiment. Firefighters are demanding immediate action against the individuals responsible for the incident, which involved a lathi charge on the firemen. Salam Jiban, the Sub-Officer of Manipur Fire Service Headquarters, stated that the strike was initiated in response to the assault on five firemen near the City Convention Centre, located just a few meters from the new check post in Imphal East. He emphasized that the fire personnel were simply carrying out their duty to extinguish a fire in the...