While offering heartfelt condolences of the sad demise of Late. Brig. Khashepu Kath, I, AZ Jami would like to supplement with some corrections of the writing of Mr.Joel Nillo, carried in the local paper of 3rd April 2012 under the caption “Naga patriot laid to rest” about the Naga Hills District Capital Kohima attack or rather siege in his word in the summer of 1956. Whatever people may say or claim, the District Capital Kohima attack, as Mr.Joel Nillo had rightly projected was the major event in the Naga National movement which drew the attention of the Indian people as well as the foreign well-wishers.
I was then a sergeant (Havildar) in the then Naga Home Guards and participated in that fighting and when the attack or siege ended, I was promoted to 2nd Lieut. That’s why I remember some of the events of the siege. Yes, Lt. Brig. Khashepu Kath was also a Commandar of one of the groups. From the Lothas, Late. Brig. Etsonyimo Tsopoe, a former veteran of Indian army, took command of one of the groups. And Late. Brig. Tsemomo Ovung, a young, brave and intelligent Indian Army soldier become one of the sub-ordinate Officers under Etsonyimo in the rank of Captain.
During the time, Late Gen. Thongti Chang was the Chief of the Naga Home Guards and Late Gen.Yanpamo Lotha was the Adjutant General of Naga Home Guards in the rank of Lieut.General. Both of them stayed together at Rukroma (Now Rosuma) and directed and supervised the Kohima siege. But while the Naga fighters were on the verge of victory, a dispute arose between Naga Home Guards and the Naga Safe Guards, and the Naga safe Guards who were assigned to block Dimapur – Kohima road withdrew enmasse. Then the enemy, the Indian army came in Battalions and Brigades from Dimapur and re-captured the Kohima town. The Indian Soldiers marched in hundreds on foot from Dimapur to Kohima and the vehicle carrying loads of supplies moved in hundreds behind the soldiers. Then the Rosuma Village was heavily bombarded by Indian Army and kept in ruins at the time.
The divisions among people face defeats. The present Naga situation is just like that. Therefore, let us unite again and put up a united effort for the common cause.
A.Z.Jami
Senior Kilonser, NSCN
