Correspondent
KOHIMA, FEBRUARY 20
THE mortal remains of the Naga officer of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), late Er. Khoto Yhokha, who was killed in an accident on February 17 in Arunachal Pradesh, was brought home on Thursday and laid to rest with full military honours in the native village, Kigwema.
Twenty-nine year old Yhokha, an Assistant Commandant in the 25th Battalion of ITBP based at Tezu in Arunachal’s Lohit district, was reportedly killed when a huge tree fell on him while he was inside his camp during a construction survey detail amidst harsh weather conditions in the jagged terrains near the Indo-China border of the district.
A guard of honour was performed by ITBP personnel and Yhokha’s casket, draped with the Indian national flag carried by ITBP pall bearers led by the DIG ITBP, Manoj Rawat and Commandant Pritam Singh, was laid at the final resting place in the village premises.
At the funeral on Thursday, friends, family and colleagues of late Khoto Yhokha paid rich tributes to the deceased. He was described fondly as a good and honest man with few words, a loyal friend, a dynamic officer and a beloved brother and son.
DIG, ITBP Tezpur, Manoj Rawat who accompanied the body to Kigwema, described late Yhokha as a brave officer who laid his life while ensuring the construction of huts for ITBP forces as well as a helipad braving difficult terrain coupled with hostile weather.
He thanked the family of the deceased for giving their son to the elite organization of the Indian forces. “This officer from this brave land had been so giving,” he said, and termed Yhokha’s demise as a tremendous loss.
“Khoto Yhokha was one of the first generation officers from Nagaland in ITBP,” Pritam Singh, Commandant 25th Bn. ITBP, said. He acknowledged that Yhokha had died while bearing the responsibility of ensuring comfort for ITBP jawans. “I have lost one dedicated officer of the unit,” he said. On a personal level, Singh said his junior officer was also his music teacher.
Parliamentary Secretary for Housing and Treasuries & Accounts, Vikho-o Yhoshü, who also spoke at the funeral also paid rich tributes to late Khoto and asserted that he has made the supreme sacrifice by giving his life while under the call of duty. Yhoshü extended gratitude to the authorities and rank and file of the ITBP who brought the mortal remains of the deceased officer from the camp in Arunachal till his native place. He also acknowledged the support, kind gestures and efforts extended by various individuals and organizations in bringing the body till Kigwema including Inspector General (NE) ITBP, DGP Nagaland B. Kezo, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, parliamentary secretary Law & Justice Dr. Nicky Kire, second-in-command 19 Assam Rifles Maj. B Vijay Kumar, SP Kohima Joseph Hesso, the Angami Public Organization (APO) and Southern Angami Public Organization.
Others who spoke at the funeral included Kigwema Village Council chairman Thepfuralie Zutso, Director Health & Family Welfare and president Kigwema Gazetted Officers’ Krotho, Dr. Niketou Kiso, Dr. Akho Yhokha, and a representative of National Institute of Technology Agartala alumni, of which late Yhokha was a member.
