• Two men volunteer to ‘fast unto death’
• Marathon mass prayer conducted
• More volunteers turn out
Morung Express News
Mokokchung | February 16
In Mokokchung, the Ao Senden leaders have informed that the bandh would continue tomorrow same timing, same conditions. It was also declared that two men have volunteered to ‘fast unto death’ as announced by NTAC/JCC earlier. Thursday in Mokokchung town begin with a solemn fervour as believers from the 21 churches in and around Mokokchung, numbering about a thousand, assembled at the Mokokchung Town Baptist Church (MTBA) for an hour-long marathon mass prayer.
The congregation was initiated by the pastors of the 21 churches and the prayer service was held from 6:00 to 7:00 am seeking divine guidance. The assembly then moved down to the main town square, Police Point, which happens to be just adjacent to the MTBA Church where short speeches by Ao Senden officials were made followed by another mass prayer.
Later, the bandh continued from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm imposed by Ao Senden where several hundred volunteers manned all strategic locations. Apart from various Ao tribal groups and organizations, more than a hundred volunteers from the Eastern Nagaland People’s Union Mokokchung, Sumi Hoho Mokokchung and Lotha Hoho Mokokchung also participated in imposing the bandh in solidarity with the Ao Senden. A number of women from the Lotha community of Mokokchung as well as from Yajang village under Mokokchung district also turned up to volunteer today.
Since Monday last, well wishers have been voluntarily coming forward to offer refreshment and lunch to the bandh volunteers. Today, I. Temsu Jamir provided lunch to all the volunteers while ENPUM and Sangkong Jamir also provided tea for the volunteers.
It also came as a refreshing delight to see the beauty queen Imlibenla Wati amidst the bandh volunteers. She along with some of her aides was seen offering tea and snacks to the volunteers. When local media persons inquired about her contribution, she expressed her concern about “the current situation in the state” and brushed off any ulterior motive behind her voluntary act adding that she views all those men as her “brothers and fathers who were risking their lives for a cause that would benefit the whole Naga society.”
On query, she admitted that she had previously expressed her interest in contesting the municipal election, but didn’t file nomination papers “listening to the common voice of the people.” She opined that she didn’t expect to lead a people by going against the wishes of those very people.
The bandh passed off peacefully today.
