Newmai News Network
Imphal | June 13
Another Manipur based journalist died due to COVID-19 related health complications on Saturday night. He was the third journalist to succumb to the dreaded virus since the pandemic hit the state.
Thotsang Shaiza, who was undergoing treatment at JNIMS hospital, Imphal, for the past few days after getting infected with coronavirus disease, breathed his last late Saturday night.
He was 46 and is survived by his wife, five children - three daughters and two sons.
Shaiza, a resident of Viewland Bazar of Ukhrul district was the Ukhrul correspondent of Aza daily, a Tangkhul daily published from Imphal. He was also a member of the Manipur Hill Journalists’ Union. Thotshang served as correspondent for ISTV, an Imphal based cable TV network besides being former president of Ukhrul District Journalist Union (UDJA). He has been undergoing treatment at JNIMS after being tested positive for COVID-19 until he breathed his last. He was the third journalist from the state who succumbed to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Apart from journalists’ bodies, chief minister N Biren Singh and state IPR minister Th Biswajit condoled the demise of journalist Shaiza.
“In his demise, we, and in particular the media fraternity, have lost a multi-faceted personality who had dedicated his life in the service of the society,” the chief minister said in his condolence message.
In his condolence message, the IPR minister remembered the significant role he played in transmission of local news to the general public.
“His untimely demise is an irreparable loss of the journalistic fraternity and has left a huge void which will be hard to fill up,” the IPR minister stated.
All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU), Editors’ Guild Manipur (EGM), Manipur Hills Journalists Union (MHJU), Ukhrul District Working Journalists’ Association (UDWJA), etc. also expressed shock and pain to the untimely demise of their colleague.
“We remember him as a very active and diligent journalist who worked to bring information from remote corners of the state to the mainstream both for the electronic media ISTV news and Tangkhul dialect daily the Aja,” EGM stated in the condolence message.
