Sat Aug 30 22:20:00 UTC 2025: Here’s a news article based on the provided text, incorporating the key information and aimed at a general audience:
**News Article:**
**Nagaland Journalist Shot While Covering Flower Festival in Manipur**
**Laii Village, Manipur -** A journalist working for Hornbill TV, a satellite news channel based in Nagaland, was shot and injured Saturday evening while covering a flower festival in Laii village, Senapati district, Manipur. Dip Saikia sustained bullet wounds to the armpit and leg during the attack.
According to reports, villagers apprehended the assailant, described as a youth, at the scene. Mr. Saikia was immediately transported to a local hospital for treatment. A first information report (FIR) has been filed with the nearest police station, and an investigation is underway.
The editor of Hornbill TV, Dzuthono Mekro, strongly condemned the attack, calling it an assault on press freedom and democratic values. “Shooting a reporter while covering a cultural event is unacceptable,” she stated. “Such violence against media professionals cannot and must not be tolerated in a society that values justice, transparency, and accountability.”
Ms. Mekro urged the governments of Nagaland and Manipur, along with law enforcement agencies, to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation, ensuring that the perpetrator and any accomplices are brought to justice swiftly.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of journalists in the region. Adding to the sensitivity of the situation, reports indicate that a few days prior to the shooting, Nagaland’s Deputy Chief Minister, Yanthungo Patton, publicly berated Mr. Saikia for posing a critical question regarding an eviction drive in Assam. Mr. Patton also oversees the Home portfolio. It is unclear if these events are connected.
Authorities are actively investigating all possible angles. The incident highlights the growing hostility and challenges faced by journalists in the region as they carry out their professional duties.
First Piper 