66th Martyrs Day
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 21 2014:
The Mao Council under the aegis of United Naga Council will observe the 66th Anniversary of Martyrs' Day at Mao Gate on August 27, 2014 at 11am.The anniversary programme will be attended by Naga Tribe Councils, Naga Frontal and Regional Organisations and social leaders besides the general Naga public, according to statement of UNC publicity wing.
August 27 has been observed annually as Martyrs' Day by the Naga in Manipur in respect and honour of the three students who were killed and those who succumbed to injuries on August 27, 1948 when a contingent of the 4th Assam Rifles and Manipur State police opened fire to the people who were gathered in Mao Gate to oppose the arrest of No Tax Campaign leaders.
The campaign led by the Naga National League in 1948 refused to pay the annual House Tax to the Government of Manipur and submitted the same to Charles Pawsey, DC of the then Naga Hills of Assam at Kohima.
The statement asserted that the act was a defiance against the Authority of Manipur State, under which the Naga of Manipur had been placed without their consent.
It was also an act of protest to the Indian Government for securing the merger of the Naga in Manipur with the Naga hills District.
Vehicular traffic between 10am to 1pm on August 27 will be blocked on NH2 at Mao Gate section and the general public are therefore advised to plan their travel accordingly, the statement added.