IT News
Imphal, June 13:
The total number of journalists dying due to Covid-19 in the state of Manipur now reached three with another 46 years old renowned journalist Thotshang Shaiza succumbed to the deadly pandemic late last evening.
Late Thotshang Shaiza, was a member of the Manipur Hill Journalists’ Union and has been serving as a Correspondent at Aza Daily. He has been undergoing treatment at JNIMS after being tested positive for Covid -19 until he breathed his last on June 12.
After report about 9 journalists testing Covid-19 positive in last month, Chief Minister of Manipur, N. Biren Singh, acknowledging the service of the journalists’ fraternity had announced the community as Covid-19 frontline warriors.
Earlier last month on May 30, former President of the All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union Sagolsem Hemant, and also the former editor of Monthly journal ‘Eikhoigi Panthung’ succumbed to Covid -19. Later on June 6, sub-editor of ‘Ireibak’ daily newspaper Saikhom Shantikumar died due to Covid-19.
So far 14 journalists from the state of Assam had died of Covid -19, 2 succumbed in Tripura.
The untimely demise of journalist Thotshang Shaiza is condoled by various media fraternities of the state.
Manipur Hills Journalists Union (MHJU)in its condolence message expressed the deepest sorrow and grief to the bereaved family and pray that God Almighty will give strength to bear this great loss. He is survived by his beloved wife along with three daughters and two sons.
The All Manipur Working Journalists Union (AMWJU) also condoles the sudden demise of Journalist Thotshang Shaiza.
IPR Minister Thongam Bishwajit also condole the demise of Thotshang Shaiza .
In his condolence message the Information and Public relation Minister, Th. Bishwajit wrote, “I express my heartfelt condolence on the untimely demise of Thotshang Shaiza, a senior journalist of The Aja Daily. During his lifetime Thotshang Shaiza played a significant role in the transmission of local news to the general public and extended solidarity and initiatives taken up by Manipur Hills Journalists Union. His untimely demise is an irreparable loss of the journalistic fraternity and has left a huge void that will be hard to fill up. I share the grief and sorrow of the bereaved family, may the departed soul rest in eternal peace”.
The Ukhrul District Working Journalists’ Association (UDWJA) also expressed deep shocked to the sudden and untimely demise of its advisor, former president and senior journalist Thotshang Shaiza who passed away at ICU of Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS), Imphal late Saturday night around 10:40 pm.
President of the Union Addie Chiphang, in a statement, said that the senior journalist succumbed to Covid-19 complications as he developed severe lung infection. He was referred out to JNIMS from Ukhrul District Hospital on June 10 after his condition worsened. Shaiza was found Covid-19 positive on June 4. He was 52.
Thotshang Shaiza joined journalism in 2009 and had served the district’s press fraternity in varied capacities as its president for consecutive two terms, as district correspondent for ISTV. He was UDWJA advisor and a district correspondent for The Aja Daily till he breathed his last.
Imphal Times also shares the sorrow and pain to the demise of journalist Thotshang Shaiza.
