Veteran journalist, former General Secretary of the All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU), and Senior Reporter of Imphal Times, Guruaribam Naocha Sharma, passed away at his residence on today morning at around 5:30 am following a prolonged illness. He was 57.
The news of his demise has cast a pall of gloom over Manipur’s media fraternity, where he was widely respected for his professionalism, integrity and commitment to journalism spanning several decades.
Members of the All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) and the Editors’ Guild Manipur (EGM) paid floral tributes to the departed journalist at the Manipur Press Club, Majorkhul, Imphal. A two-minute silence was observed in his memory as journalists and colleagues gathered to pay their last respects.
The Imphal Times family also expressed profound grief over the loss of its senior journalist, describing his passing as an irreparable loss to the organisation and the media fraternity. Guruaribam Naocha Sharma, son of Guruaribam Brajamani Sharma, hailed from Keishamthong Hodam Leirak in Imphal West district. He is survived by his wife and two children.
Members of the Royal Riders Manipur, led by their president, also visited the Manipur Press Club and offered floral tributes to the late journalist.
Throughout his distinguished career, Naocha Sharma worked as a correspondent for Sahara TV, NewsX and ANI News Agency before joining Imphal Times as Senior Reporter.
A committed member of AMWJU for many years, he served on the union’s Standing Committee from 2011 to 2013 before being elected General Secretary, a position he held from June 1, 2013, to June 1, 2015. During his tenure, he played an active role in strengthening the journalists’ body and advocating for the welfare and rights of media professionals.