HornbillTV extended solidarity to Saikia’s family and wished him a speedy recovery. “Violence has no place in a democratic society, and it is the collective responsibility of the state, civil society, and citizens to safeguard press freedom,” the channel asserted.
TFM Desk
A journalist with Nagaland-based HornbillTV, Dip Saikia, was shot and injured by an unidentified miscreant while covering the Zinnia Flower Festival at Laii village in Manipur’s Senapati district on Saturday evening. The has raised fresh concerns over the safety of journalists working in the Northeast.
According to police sources, the incident took place around 4 pm, when unknown assailants opened fire at the festival ground. Saikia sustained bullet injuries to his right leg and under the armpit. He was rushed to the Senapati district hospital for first aid before being shifted to Nagaland for advanced treatment. Medical authorities confirmed that he is now out of danger.
Police said that a pressurised air rifle, suspected to have been used in the attack, was recovered from the site. A senior Senapati district officer stated, “Police has identified the culprit and a team is on its way to arrest the alleged culprits; however, the reason for committing the crime is yet to be ascertained.”
HornbillTV Condemns ‘Attack on Press Freedom’
HornbillTV issued a strongly worded statement condemning the “shocking and reprehensible” assault on its reporter.
“Journalists serve as the eyes and ears of the public, often risking their lives to bring truth to light. The shooting of Mr. Saikia while he was covering a cultural event is not only an assault on his person but also a direct attack on press freedom and the democratic values we uphold,” the statement read.
Signed by Dzuthono Mekro, Editor, HornbillTV, the letter urged the governments of Nagaland and Manipur, law enforcement agencies, and civil society to ensure a thorough and impartial investigation. The channel also demanded swift justice to send a strong message that violence against journalists will not go unpunished.
HornbillTV extended solidarity to Saikia’s family and wished him a speedy recovery. “Violence has no place in a democratic society, and it is the collective responsibility of the state, civil society, and citizens to safeguard press freedom,” the channel asserted.
This attack comes amid heightened concerns about the growing hostility faced by journalists in the region. Media workers in Manipur and Nagaland have often complained of intimidation, harassment, and targeted violence while carrying out their professional duties. The incident in Senapati district, Manipur underscored the precarious situation faced by journalists, who often operate under political, ethnic, and insurgency-related pressures.
Media observers warn that such attacks risk creating a climate of fear and self-censorship, undermining democratic accountability at a time when the region is grappling with ethnic tensions and political instability.
Civil society groups and journalist associations have also joined the call for justice, stressing that the attack on Dip Saikia must not be treated as an isolated event. Instead, they argue, it reflects a larger pattern of shrinking space for independent journalism in the Northeast.
As investigations continue, the spotlight is on whether authorities in Manipur and Nagaland will ensure accountability and protection for journalists who, as HornbillTV reminded, “risk their lives to bring truth to light.”