Naga 'Martyrs' Day' on May 6
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Senapati, May 04 2020: Due to COVID-19 lockdown, this year's Martyrs' Day will be observed symbolically by Mao Council (MC) on May 6 .

The Naga people under the aegis of the United Naga Council (UNC) have been observing Martyrs' Day on May 6 every year since 2010 at Martyr Park, Mao-Gate, for what the UNC termed as "supreme sacrifice made by Late Mr Neli Chakho and Late Mr Dikho Loshou" .

Meanwhile, the UNC appealed "tribes and frontal organizations" to observe the same in their respective jurisdictions at their conveniences.

Recalling the event of May 6, 2010 at Mao Gate, the UNC in a statement, "having agreed between the Government of India and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN), Mr Th Muivah, Ato Kilonser, NSCN was to visit his native village, Somdal, Ukhrul district" .

The UNC added, but to ban his entry, the then "communal State Government of Manipur" deployed hundreds of State security and paramilitary forces at Mao-Gate and surrounding villages and also imposed curfew and section 144 CrPC in all "Naga areas" .

On May 6 that year, according to the UNC, the Naga people under the aegis of the Mao Women Welfare Association (MWWA) took out a peace rally against the "brutal assault of one elderly man, Mr Puni on May 5, at Mao-Gate by IRB personnel and also, against the unjustified banning of the entry of Mr Th Muivah, Ato Kilonser, NSCN to his native village, Somdal, Ukhrul district" .

The peace rally at Mao-Gate also voiced against the creation of "war-like situation during peace time by the Government of Manipur by imposing curfew and CrPC 144 in Naga areas," the UNC added.

The security forces of Government of Manipur indiscriminately shelled tear gas and rubber bullets, mock bombs etc on the "innocent" people who were taking part in the peace rally, the UNC said.

"On that fateful day, the two students, Neli Chakho and Dikho Loshou, both from Kalinamai village were shot dead while hundreds of women were brutally assaulted and badly injured and hundreds fled to Kisama and Khuzama villages in Nagaland to escape the fury unleashed by the security forces of the Government of Manipur," the UNC stated.

It then stated that the Nagas in Manipur till today acknowledge the "helping hands of our Nagaland brothers and sisters" and particularly the villages of Kisama and Khuzama for extending helping hand to those displaced Nagas.

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