Leaders & Organisations pay homage at the send-off service at Dimapur Airport
Dimapur, September 23 (MExN): The mortal remains of Late Imtikumzuk Longkumer arrived in Dimapur today from New Delhi.
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, during a send-off service organized at Dimapur Airport premises recalled his personal association with Late Imtikumzuk as a friend, colleague and gentleman of few words. Rio stated that he had high respect for the departed leader with whom he shared trust, zeal and vision.
The Chief Minister also added that after getting elected this year to the NLA, Imtikumzuk fell ill. Rio said that he met Imtikumzuk, his wife and sister in Delhi recently while the latter was undergoing treatment. Adding that Imtikumzuk’s cheerfulness and eagerness to come back to the State was admirable, he said “As humans, we do not know the plans of God but assured that he and his colleagues will always be there for the family of late Imtikumzuk.”
“Although he is no more, we will be with you in the times to come. We will share your problems and joys. Let us trust in God so that the living will continue to live with hope in Christ,” Rio consoled the family.
NDPP President and PDA Chairman Chingwang Konyak recalled his association with the departed leader and said “I have known Imtikumzuk since the 90s. He was very active and rose to the present position from the grassroots. A two-time MLA, he was upright and promising and his untimely demise is the loss of not only a leader but a comrade who had shown his enthusiasm and courage to build the party with utmost loyalty and dedication,” Chingwang said and conveyed heartfelt condolences to the wife and children and prayed for solace and comfort upon them.
Minister HE & TE and State BJP President Temjen Imna Along said “We can only feel the hurt and the pain but we do not know how to feel the loss the family has suffered. My heart goes out to them for the loss of a father, a husband and a father who always listened to his children.
“I on behalf of the BJP party, the BJP Legislature Party led by the Deputy CM Y Patton who expressed his regret for being unable to be here today, express our deepest condolences,” he said.
The Minister also thanked Leader of Opposition TR Zeliang and his family members and all MLAs from the NPF party who came forward to express their solidarity and help in Delhi and Dimapur.
Expressing solidarity with Ungma village, the Minister prayed that God would bring forth more leaders from the soil like Imtikumzuk whose good nature and humility would be remembered.
Ao Senso Telongjem Dimapur also paid their respect and said that the demise of Imtikumzuk was a great loss for the Ao community and the Nagas in general and conveyed deepest sympathies to the bereaved family.
Speaking on behalf of the Ungma Senso Telongjem Dimapur, Ungma Village Council and Ungma Baptist Church, Supulepden Jamir conveyed gratitude and happiness to all who came forward to help and show their concern in time of distress and sorrow. “We do not want to accept this day but we have to. Today we are facing the untimely demise of our leader The only solace is that, it is not how long one lives, but how well one lived,” he said and led the gathering in observing two minutes of silence in respect of the departed soul.
Imkongzenla, wife of late Imtikumzuk thanked God for the divine strength they received. She also thanked his colleagues and various people present
Also speaking at the service, Imtikumzuk’s daughter added that it would not have been so easy to bring back her father’s mortal remains without the help of all those who came forward in their time of tragedy. She described her father as the most wonderful and humble person she ever knew. “He lives on in our hearts,” she added.
The service was chaired by Imnatoshi Longkumer, Pastor of Dimapur Ao Baptist Arogo. The service ended with a mass prayer after which the mortal remains were taken to Kohima. Thereafter, will proceed to Ungma Village where a State Funeral will be held at 10:00 am on September 25.
