Nagaland Governor backs Assam Rifles on notice to media

GUWAHATI: With the standoff continuing between the Assam Rifles and editors in Nagaland, state Governor PB Acharya said the paramilitary force has done the right thing by asking newspapers not to publish statements of banned militant outfit National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang faction.

Three English dailies in Nagaland carried blank editorials on November 16, the National Press Day, to protest a recent notice from the Assam Rifles that accused them of offering intentional or unintentional support to the outfit. Editors had called this as an attempt to gag the media.

Acharya said: "Security force Assam Rifles has done the right thing. If there is peace in Nagaland, there will peace in rest of Northeast India."

The Press Council of India has taken suo motu action on the notice. The council has sought to know the reasons and necessity behind the move, which it said appeared prima facie as having an adverse bearing on the freedom of press.

In a news release, the council said it has called upon the director-general of Assam Rifles to “furnish the reason, circumstance and necessity of issuing the notice”.

The Nagaland chief secretary's report too has been "urgently sought", it added.