IMPHAL, OCT 29 : Senior journalist and Imphal correspondent of The Telegraph Kolkata, Khellen Thokchom, was humiliated by IRB personnel at Tera Bazar while the latter was returning home this evening about 10.30pm.
Khellen said he was aware of a permanent IRB picket at the bazar and was driving carefully when somebody from the picket shone a torch at his face.
He slowed down but after the torch went off, he continued driving thinking that the uniformed personnel probably wanted to see who was coming and did not intent to stop him.
He was however ordered to halt after a little distance, which he obeyed.
He identified himself as a pressman, whereupon the IRB personnel said they suspected as much and in fact stopped him because this suspicion.
The IRB men then taunted him with the words :"Nongmei marudi pressman-ni aduni kahba leitabani. Nakhoi pressmen singse yamna chaoraboi. CM dati henna chaoramanene. Chatlo" "Bullets do not distinguish between pressmen and others. You pressmen have become more important than even the chief minister these days. Go"
The matter will come up in tomorrow`s general body meeting of the AMWJU.