Eric Miachieo
On the fateful evening of July 27 last, Neitho Miachieo, in his usual cheerful self, drove to Mohonkhola, a colony in Kohima, to buy spare parts for his car. He had a reason to be cheerful. He had got the break he needed just recently. He had got a new appointment to a high post and everything seemed to be going his way. He thought he had only to look ahead.
He was a person well liked by all. Smart, efficient and energetic, friendly and amiable, Neitho, fondly called Atho by friends, was also the favorite of his superiors. He had few enemies and he had no reason to suspect that some armed youths were lying in wait for him with the intention to kill.
It was around 4:30 that evening when, as soon as he parked his car and alighted from his car, he was confronted by some six to seven armed youths who, at gunpoint, forced him back into his car. Some of the gunmen also climbed into the car and ordered him to follow another car in which some of the gunmen climbed in and together they sped off.
He was led to a place high above Aradura Hills to a secluded spot where they stopped and forced him to get out. The gunmen then tied his hands from behind and put a blindfold on him. One of the gunmen then shot him in the abdomen and after letting him suffer in agony for sometime, shot him point-blank in the left temple. Police, who launched a search after being alerted of the abduction from witnesses, found his bullet-ridden body at 6 the same evening.
At about 7 the same evening, I was out partying with friends when I received the shocking news from a colleague. Not entirely believing the news at first, I called up the police, who confirmed the news – I had lost a dear brother! My cousin, Neitho, and I along with my other cousins and siblings were brought up together like real brothers and sisters in our childhood. Even after years of separation later after we followed our own callings, we maintained a strong, brotherly relationship.
It was hard to believe that just the day before, we had a long chat over our cell phones, laughing, teasing, cracking jokes as usual. He was his usual cheerful self and his cheerfulness was contagious. I have never known anyone who had so many friends or one so popular and well-liked. I had once thought he knew and was friends with every single person in Dimapur and Kohima. In government offices, corporate houses, business establishments, different organizations, in every single union and association he had friends. He was loved and respected by all and he endeared himself to all.
He always had a kind word for everyone and he always went out of his way to help a friend or relative in distress. He was also greatly responsible for strengthening our family ties. He ensured that the family always stayed near and dear. For every single problem, he would have a solution and every member of the family and relatives and friends turned to him for help whenever faced with a problem. And Atho would always go out of his way to help somehow or the other.
He was also a true patriot. He had the firm conviction that Nagas are unique, have been and should remain their own rulers in our own nation. With that conviction he got involved in the national movement and had been assigned the post of Political Organizer of the NSCN (IM) less than two months before. He died with and for that belief – died for the Naga nation that he held so dear! May his noble soul rest in eternal peace!
