Newmai News Network
Senapati | May 5
The All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM) said on Tuesday that it “joins the Naga people in honouring late Neli Chakho and late Dikho Loshou who were shot dead at Mao Gate on May 6, 2010”.
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, Senapati district.
According to the ANSAM, both of them “gave their all to defend our land, history and identity”. The Associstion added that “We are all born to die, but two young souls Loshou and Chakho boldly chose to die as martyrs on May 6, 2010”.
In its press note, the ANSAM recalled that, on May 2, 2010 a curfew was imposed at Mao Gate following the Manipur State cabinet decision, banning the travel of Th. Muivah, the ‘Ato Kilonser’ (Prime Minister) of GPRN, to his native village, Somdal in Ukhrul district.
According to the ANSAM, on May 4 and May 5, 2010, the Mao Women Welfare Association under the aegis of Naga Women’s Union (NWU) organised a “peaceful” sit-in protest at Mao Gate against the Manipur State cabinet decision. “Thereafter on May 6, 2010, the people took out a peaceful procession along the erstwhile National Highway 39 and now NH-2, to protest against the savage acts of the IRB and police commandos,” added the ANSAM press note.
“During the procession the Manipur State forces started firing tear gas shells and hurled stick bombs on the unarmed civilians,” mentioned the Naga student body in its press statement, adding, “When the women were brutalised, Dikho Loshuo, Neli Chakho and other youths confronted the Manipur state forces”. It further added, “In the process, the two youths were shot dead by IRBs and commandos and more than hundred women injured”.
The “horror” of May 6, 2010 at Mao Gate epitomized the “martyrdom” of Loshou and Chakho, said the ANSAM press note, adding, “We pay our homage to them and salute their acts of valour. Their stories will live on in the hearts and minds of the Naga people”. In memory of “Naga martyrs”, ANSAM has marked the June 19, as ‘ANSAM Remembrance Day’ and in their honour “we dedicate ‘ANSAM Memorial Park’ at Kapaam village, (Komlathabi), Chandel district,” it added.
