Tangkhul groups stage 'Valentine dharna' for Anthony Pamreiso Shimray
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Ukhrul, February 14 2012:
On a day when cupid arrows strike the heart of lovers, dharna struck in the heart of Ukhrul town - which many would love to coin as Valentine's gift from Tangkhul civil societies to Ningkhan Anthony Shimray languishing in a solitude of high-wall Tihar prison.
On Tuesday, the public campaign to free NSCN (IM)'s head of foreign affairs Ningkhan Anthony Shimray was intensified with a dharna from noon to 2 pm by Tangkhul civil societies staged at Gandhi Chowk in Ukhrul.
The popular voice in favour of the detained Naga group leader, as many argue, came a little late since his arrest from Kathmandu's Tribhuvan airport on September 27, 2010 .
At time when some feel Anthony has been given a Romanian treatment by fellow Nagas, there is at least no love lost for him in his hometown.
On Valentine's Day, a handful of representatives from various Tangkhul civil societies walked out from their homes with a bouquet, not of flowers but placards, to renew their love for peace in Naga country.
"The dharna is part of our continuing campaign to free Ningkhan Anthony Shimray from his detention (in Tihar jail)," Tangkhul Shanao Long (TSL) president Sila Konghay told this correspondent.
In today's dharna, the TSL was joined by TKS, TMNL and NPMHR wielding placards, which some of them read - Release Ningkhan Anthony Shimray, War or Ceasefire-Let's stand for peace, NIA is not above the law, etc.
In the protest at the memorial Gandhi Chowk in the heart of Ukhrul town, leaders of Tangkhul civil societies said it is people's message to the Government of India to respect the spirit of the ongoing ceasefire and peace talk.
In fact, the campaign to free NSCN leader was initiated by Naga Women Union, Manipur (NWUM) that kick-started with a two-hour public curfew imposed in whole of Naga districts on February 9.Since then, the Tangkhul groups have been steadfastly carrying on with a series of democratic movements.
Early this year, the legal tangle against Anthony got more complicated with his bail rejected by the court on January 4 and slapped with old cases from 1982.He is being charged with procuring arms and waging war against the Indian State.
NSCN (IM) leader is reportedly on a hunger strike to protest against his continued detention.
On the other hand, the outcome of the speedy trial fixed by National Investigating Agency (NIA) Special Court from February 10-13 is yet to be made official.