Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 2
Even as the whole of India was observing the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi – the Father of the Nation – today, a section of Naga youth were staging a more somber anniversary of their own here in Dimapur.
Ten years after the horrors of the twin bomb blasts that took place at Dimapur’s railway station and Hong Kong market, on this corresponding day of 2004, a handful of Naga youth on Thursday decided to light candles around the Clock Tower in Dimapur to mark the tragic incident.
Under the banner of Survival Nagaland, young Nagas numbering around 50 gathered at the Clock Tower junction Thursday evening, lit some candles and observed a minute’s silence in memory of the thirty persons who lost their lives that day.
Allegedly carried out by Illegal Bangladeshi Immigrants (IBIs) the twin explosions also injured hundreds of people. Dimapur police had on May, 2009 claimed to have cracked the case and charge-sheeted nine accused persons.
A member of Survival Nagaland, Vikali Shikhu expressed solidarity to the families of those who fell victim to the blasts. She stressed on the need to “protect” Nagaland from such incidents while underscoring that “illegal people will always carry out illegal activities.”
Shikhu also put across the message that “outsiders” are today plotting another form of explosion to overrun Nagas – population explosion. She however reminded that it was not a call to Nagas to be “offensive” but to serve the reminder that Nagas have the right to defend.
Associate pastor of Lotha Baptist Church, Dimapur, Thenjamo Lotha exhorted the gathering.
Members of Survival Nagaland were hopeful that they would continue the tradition of lighting candles on the day every year hence. “Next year, we will try to invite the victims and the family members of those who lost their lives,” a member informed.
