Veteran journalist Ak Sanaton who is the former president of All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) passed away on Thursday at his residence in Imphal East district in Manipur after a prolonged illness.
He was 71 and is survived by his wife, two sons and one daughter. Sanaton served as the Editor of ‘Ehou’ daily and was president of AMWJU.
Sanaton was instrumental in pushing through the journalist pension scheme which every working journalist is entitled today after organising a big musical night in Imphal in 1996.
Maniour Chief Minister N Biren Singh who also started his career as a journalist and editor in the state condoled the sudden demise of Sanaton, a resident of Singjamei Wangma Kshetri Leikai under Imphal East district.
In a condolence message, Biren said apart from being a journalist, AK Sanaton was a political and social activist as well.
“He worked tirelessly for the cause of the media fraternity till his last breath,” he said.
“In his death, the state and the media fraternity have lost a precious social workers and an upright journalist.”
Members of the Editors Guild Manipur, share the sorrow and grief of the family.
In his death Manipur has lost a precious “son of the soil” who had served as the conscience of many a journalist who used to consult him at times of not only professional and personal crisis but also issues concerning the State, EGM in a statement said.