5th death anniversary of journalist Nanao observed

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Dec 24

Fifth death anniversary of Thangjam Dijamani alias Nanao was observed yesterday at the hillock of Cheiraoching, Thangmeiband.

Speaking in the ceremony, MLA K. Joykishan said that media fraternity is taking a vital role in shaping a society and in communication in the state and throughout the world. Media persons work with heart and soul even in harsh condition to circulate the news. The brave souls must be honoured with dignity by each and everyone in the society, he added.

Joykishan stated that some incidents had occurred in the last few months that violated the freedom of expression by burning newspapers by some political parties. He also condemned life threat given by some politician against a journalist. Manipur is a democratic state and people should honour media rather than humiliating its right, asserted Joykishan.

President of All Manipur Working Journalist Union (AMWJU), W. Samjai said that Thangjam Dijamani was one of the renowned journalists for Primetime Guwahati and a stringer in DDK Imphal. He died on the spot during gunshots by police while doing news coverage of the agitation for assaulting a Manipuri film actress, Momoko by an NSCN-IM cadre in Chandel district on December 18, 2012, he added.

Samjai continued that that blueprint for constructing a memorial for the martyred journalist at Chingmeirong has completed and construction work will be started shortly. Thangmeiband MLA, K. Joykishan has assured to give financial assistance for the construction work, he added.

He further appealed the people that media fraternity of the state should be respected. Journalists face life threats and even get injured while covering news, so the freedom of expression should never be humiliated, added Samjai.