joseph joute
File image of Joseph Joute

Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh on Tuesday condoled the demise of senior journalist Joseph Joute from Manipur’s Churachandpur district who passed away at a hospital in Imphal on June 28 last.

Joseph was 50 years old and survived by wife and three children.

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In a condolence message on Tuesday, Biren said, “I’m shocked and deeply aggrieved to learn about the sad demise of senior journalist Joseph Joute, co-editor of of Hmasawnna Thar, a daily newspaper in Hmar dialect on June 28 after a brief illness.”

Besides being a former contributor of Delhi based North East SUN magazine and correspondent of Press Trust of India and many Imphal based newspapers from Churachandpur, Joseph also works as a joint editor of the then Shan, a popular Hmar vernacular in Churachandpur before editing and publishing his own Hmar daily The Churachandpur Times (2002-06).

representatives of manipur journalists bodies handing over monetary help to bereaved family
Representatives of Manipur journalists’ bodies handing over monetary help to bereaved family of Joseph Joute on July 2, 2019. Image: Northeast Now

During his social activities, Joseph took up many ways to reduce extreme poverty, injustice, gender disparity through his ventures M/s Tribal Enterprise and the Bible Hill Youth Club.

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Stating that on his demise, the State has lost a sincere journalist, the chief minister said Joseph Joute was an immense inspiration for many budding journalists and youth.

“On his demise, we’ve lost a sincere journalist and a good human being,” he said.

“I convey my deepest condolence and share grief with the bereaved family,” Biren further added.

All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union in association with Manipur Hill Journalists’ Union members also handed over monetary help to the bereaved family of the late senior journalist at Churachandpur town on Tuesday.

The members of the journalists’ community also observed two minutes silence in honour of the departed soul, according to a press release.