The Manipur government has decided to restrain the press from  publishing press releases and statements by different militant outfits in verbatim as it could 'mislead' the readers.

A decision to restrict the newspapers and other media organisations to this effect was taken at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday chaired by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, sources said.

Relevant government departments would now go through press releases or statements of militant outfits, published in dailies, and examine whether the item was 'seditious' or not, sources said.

The meeting took serious note of press releases and statements of militant outfits by certain dailies in the state observing it could 'mislead' the readers.

Newspapers or media organisations could publish only those portions of press releases or statements of the militant outfits which merited 'news' to the public, sources said.