Former President of Ukhrul District Working Journalists Association (UDWJA) and Ukhrul senior journalist Thotshang Shaiza succumbed to Covid-19 at JNIMS ICU on Saturday at 10:40 PM. Ukhrul District Hospital refered him to JNIMS on Thursday after his condition deteriorated. During his lifetime, Thotshang took immense role in transmission of local news to the general public. He had extended his solidarity and took part in all the major initiatives of Manipur Hills Journalists Union and All Manipur Working Journalists Union. He had served as District Correspondent of electronic media ISTV News and Tangkhul dialect daily, the Aja. It maybe mentioned that he lost his elder brother to COVID-19 just two days ago.

"MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE"

Imphal, 07 June 2021 ( Evening News ) : Just a couple of weeks ago, there was a big hue and cry about inadequate availability of covid-19 vaccines in the state, but now there slots and more slots available at various vaccination centers opened across the state but people aren't just turning up to get the jab. Reality, out of the total around 35 lakhs population in Manipur, a little over 5 lakhs have been inoculated so far. Out of this, 4.2 lakhs people have recieved the first dose of covid-19 vaccine and 80,885 people have recieved the second dose.The number is embarassing especially on Sundays. Only 200 people in total were vaccinated against Covid-19 across the state yesterday when 40,000 people were innoculated at a single location on a single day in Hyderabad. Why people in the state are reluctant to get the jab? Is it because the vaccine itself has no efficacy as there are reports of people getting detected positive for COVID-19 even after taking the two required doses? Is it because of the rumours going round on various social media platforms about its presumed side-effects including one of becoming a zombie or sudden death after two years? Or Is it because that the recently launched, "Aggressive Mass COVID-19 Testing drive" has cocooned everyone inside their homes? What can be done to increase the vaccination rate?

Imphal, 01 June 2021 (Evening News ) : "Manipur Police is leaving no stone unturned to curb the second or even probably the third wave of COVID-19 pandemic in the state. Active cases have risen above 1000 mark twice and it was 869 yesterday. As a part of the aggressive mass Covid testing drive launched by Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren in the state today, police nabbed curfew violators and conducted COVID testing upon them. Violators were made to pay fines and RAT Covid tests were conducted upon them by health officials on the spot. Singjamei Police team under the supervision of Additional SP Th. Bidyapati along with doctors and other health workers of State Health Deparment carried out Covid testing drive upon curfew violators at Singjamei Chinga Crossing amid this morning's drizzle. Rapid Antigent Tests to detect COVID-19 were conducted upon 29 lockdown violators out of which 4 including a woman tested positive for COVID-19. Police said, those who tested positive for COVID-19 will be issued fines and then take them to Covid Care Centres while those found negative will be slapped with fines for violating curfew restrictions. Police is serious about conducting similar drive at various parts of the city.