The Villagers of Bura-Namsang village under Tamlu Sub-Division of Longleng district in Eastern part of Nagaland has first time, Celebrated the Monyu festival with colourful programmes. The Bura-Namsang Village which was established in 18th Century, at present has 1000 families is the biggest village of the Longleng district.
The Monyu the most popular and biggest festival falls in the month of April every year soon after the sowing season. The festival is celebrated for 6 days, begining from 1st to 6th April every year. It also marks the end of Winter and begining of Summer or Monsoon. A day or two prior to the festival the green signals of the dawn of festival is made by beating drums with a distinct tune synchronised purposely for the event, trditionally named "Lan Nyangshem".
The Priest or the Village elders performed a ritual and pridict what the forthcoming festival would be, a blessing or a curse. In case the prediction shows the sign of danger, the villagers are warned to be careful during the festivity. Monyu is the time to bid farewell to the on going year and heralds the dawn of the new year. It also the time of prayers and dedication for the sprouting crops that are already sowed. The main feature of the Monyu is the occasion, when the male members of the family shows love and renewal of the affectioned feelings towards their married daughters and sisters by presenting them the purest of the rice beer and specially prepared foods. Such conduct reflects the general status of the Phom Women that "they are respected and honoured". Planning and decision relating to the community welfare to be implemented throughout the years are decided during the festival.
The Six days long festival follows a circle of ritual and activities which are categorised day-wise as following. The first day is the day for all over preparation. Besides preparing of domestic chores every household go to collect wrapping leaves and bamboo's which is called, " Shongten-Laiphen".
The second day is for Compulsory brewing of all kinds of Rice-beer.
The third day is meant for the varying age group from oldest one to the youngest. They gather together and feast admist dancing, merry making etc., Thus the day is named, " Aiha Okshok".
The fourth day is coined as "Chingi Okshok", which practically means general festivity and also the day of arrival of guests from the neighbouring villages.
Police arrested a surrendered KPLT militant on Friday. Identified as Maniram Rongpi, the surrendered Karbi militant was arrested from Nagaon.
He was arrested a day after three insurgents in connection with rhino horn smuggling.
Violence resurfaces in Karbi Anglong when a KRA militant was killed at clash with UKDA militant on Friday.
The clash took place in the evening at Sinhasan hill where the KRA militant died on the spot. The KRA militant was identified as Janghao Thawhaw who was attacked with sharp weapons. An UKDA militant was also injured in the incident.
In yet another shootout in Guwahati, president and secretary of a village panchayat, were shot at and seriously injured by miscreants in Kamrup on Friday.
According to police, Saniyadi village panchayat president Mokibur Ali and Secretary Mojinur Ali had withdrawn Rs 2.60 lakh from a bank and were on way to Guwahati when unidentified miscreants opened fire at them at Agiathuri.
Later, both of them were admitted to the Guwahati Medical College Hospital.
A group of senior officials of Assam and Mizoram on Friday decided to continue talks to ease tension along the inter state border.
In a resolution passed at a crucial meeting held in the Silchar Circuit House, both sides decided that border tension should be de-escalated in Cachar-Kolasib belt during the last few days.
Cachar Deputy Commissioner Harendra Kumar Dev Mahanta and his counterpart from Kolasib in Mizoram, Niharika Rai attended the meeting along with senior police and administration officials. They further decided to hold quarterly meetings in Silchar and Kolasib. Top ranked police officials from Dhalai in Cachar and Vairangte in Kolasib will hold monthly meetings.
CPM leader Prakash on Friday came down heavily on the UPA government for the recent decision to increase the FDI insurance and the pension bill.
Addressing a public meeting in Chirang on Friday he said that CPI(M) would give an united fight with other political parties to defeat the move.
He further visited relief camps in the violence hit districts of Kokrajhar, Chirang and neigbouring Bongaigaon. He also interacted with the camp inmates and called upon the state government and the BTAD administration to take measures so that people can go back to their homes at the earliest.
Tension still grips Haflong town on Friday. The prohibitory order was also discontinued in view of the withdrawal of the Dima Hasao bandh called jointly by the North Cachar Hills Indigenous Peoples' Forum and its students and women wings.
Curfew was imposed following violence during a 48-hour bandh called by the NCHIPF to press for bifurcation of Dima Hasao district into two autonomous districts.
CPI(M) leader Prakash Karat on Friday called upon people to defeat divisive forces---trying to divide the society in the name of religion.
In his address at a public meeting at Bijni Karat held that the recent cycle of violence in BTAD areas had nationwide repercussion.
He said that the exodus of people of North-East people from Bangalore, Hyderabad itself manifested it. He flayed both Delhi and Dispur alleging the failure in ensuring safety and security of the people.
A hardcore ULFA militant was killed at an encounter with security forces in Tinsukia district on Thursday. The gunbattle took place in the wee hours at Torani reserve forest near Pengeri. Acting on a tip off that a group of ULFA-men was hiding in the dense jungle police and army personnel launched an operation where the gun fight took place. ULF militant Wangli Moran was killed on the spot while others managed to escape from the spot.
Businessman Ramesh Agarwalla was found dead in Tinsukia on Thursday three days after he was kidnapped at gunpoint. His body was found at a tiny village in the district. Meanwhile, police have three youths in this connection. When Agarwalla went missing his family members denied receipt of any extortion notices. More arrested are awaited.
Yet another sensation murder rocks Guwahati. A group of dacoits killed a businessman in the city on Wednesday night. The incident took place at Bhetapara area. A few armed miscreants attacked businessman Dilip Saikia and his employees with sharp weapons. Some of the family members also sprang upon the dacoits. Local residents in large numbers also came out to their rescue. Saikia was rushed to the hospital. But he succumbed to his injuries on the way. The local resident captured a dacoit before it was handed over to police. A pistol was found from the spot.
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