Manipur Nagas pay tribute to the 6 slain NSCM-IM cadres

Guwahati: Nagas in Manipur on Friday paid their final respects to the 5 cadres of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM) who were recently encountered by the security forces in Longding district of Arunachal Pradesh.

Amidst the pandemic lockdown, on Thursday night, the bodies of two of the six cadres killed were brought home for burial from Dibrugarh in Assam to Ukhrul district in Manipur. The condolence service organized jointly by Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) and Tangkhul civil organizations functioning under the United Naga Council (UNC), an apex body of Nagas in Manipur, was held at TNL ground at the Ukhrul district headquarters.

UNC President Kho John said that the sacrifice of the six young men will not go in vain but it will go down in the history of Nagas' struggles and its record. "Nagas have been fighting for our rights for the last 70 years and we have been able to stand this far," he added while speaking at the event. He also extended condolences to the two bereaved families and the Tangkhul people. Following this, the bodies of the slain cadres-2nd Lieutenant Somaya and Sergeant Somipam Shaiza were taken to their native villages for burial.

Of the remaining four, the bodies of Lentsuba Lalii and Ashok Wangsa were reportedly buried in Nagaland. Paogouhao's body was taken to his native place in Dima Hasao in Assam and Sergeant Pansa's body was taken to the Naga area in Myanmar.

The encounter which happened on July 11th was carried out jointly by Assam Rifles and Arunachal Pradesh Police at Nginu village in Longding district of Arunachal Pradesh. One security personnel was also reportedly injured in the encounter.  

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