Neidilhoutuo Sechü
KOHIMA, SEPTEMBER 10
For many years to go, August 28, 2015 tragedy at the International Trade Centre, near Pangsha village under Noklak sub-division, will continue to haunt 20 year-old Thamaioa, one among the two injured survivors.
It was on this day at around 1 to 1.30 in the afternoon, the Assam Rifles ambushed a group of NSCN (K) cadres who were heading towards Myanmar. The NSCN convoy, comprising three vehicles including a bike, gypsy and Tata Mobile, had innocent civilians who were favored with the privilege of a lift back to their respective destinations. Thamaioa Khiamniungan, hailing from Pounyu, a Naga village in Myanmar, was one among the innocent civilians in the casualty list.
Thamaioa is the daughter of late Langan, and the third among the five siblings. She suffered multiple bullet injuries on the chest and the spinal cord. She is being treated at a private hospital in Kohima.
It’s amazing to know how this girl survived after multiple bullet injuries. According to one of her family members, straight away after the incident the victim was taken to a health centre at Noklak for emergency treatment. However, with her condition being critical, she was later shifted to Tuensang District Hospital. They reportedly reached the hospital at around 12.30 a.m. on August 29 (Saturday).There at Tuensang, the doctors and nurses gave her the necessary treatment, but suggested them to get admitted to a hospital with better medical facilities. Then on, the victim’s family headed for Mokokchung and reached the destination at 9 pm on August 29 (Saturday).
But even at Mokokchung, the medical staff suggested them to get her admitted to a hospital in Kohima or Dimapur. With no option left, the family opted for the shorter route and reached the said private hospital in Kohima early Sunday morning (August 30) at around 5.30 am.
The journey from Pangsha to Kohima, via Noklak, Tuensang and Mokokchung, took two nights and a day. Going by the exact time of the incident at Pangsha, it was 40 hours when the victim and her family reached the private hospital in Kohima.
According to a doctor of the private hospital, the victim had lost lots of blood during the 40-hour troublesome journey. He said both the legs of the victim were brought paralyzed, since the injury affected her spinal cord. However, the good news is -- the victim is now out of danger and recovering. The medical surgeon informed that Thamaioa was discharged from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on September 4 morning.
Talking to Eastern Mirror from her hospital bed, Thamaioa was grateful she survived. She was thankful to God, and more delighted that she will be meeting her family and relatives again.
“At once, I thought I won’t survive after the bullets hit me,” she uttered these words recalling the dreadful firing incident. Out of the three vehicles ambushed, she was travelling from the Tata Mobile. She admitted that she was never aware how many persons were in the same vehicle she was travelling in, nor had the knowledge how many persons were killed during the incident.
That fateful morning, Thamaioa departed from her village at 8 am to attend a medical camp at New Pangsha, a few distance away from Pangsha (Old). The firing incident happened when she was returning home. Taking a walk on the road, she stopped the approaching Tata Mobile and asked for a lift if they were heading towards Myanmar. And that was how she boarded the vehicle. She remembers that a gGypsy and a bike joined them at Pangsha village.
According to Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA) advisor, Rosemary Dzüvichü, the bike and the Gypsy came to escort the Tata Mobile which was carrying Kakheni Sumi, wife of NSCN (K) leader, Isak Sumi.
Thamaioa recalled that firing sounds were heard before their vehicle was attempted. Reliable sources said the first firing attempts were made on the bike and the Gypsy and finally on the mini truck.
“Even before we could be so sure of the firing sounds ahead of us, we found ourselves in the same firing zone. From nowhere, bullets hit us from above,” she recalled.
Sources said the bike was shot exactly in front of the ITC guest house, whereas the Gypsy and Tata mobile were attacked one after the other, not far away from the guest house.
Bed ridden Thamaioa could hardly recall the aftermath of the awful incident, including the 40-hour journey from Pangsha to Kohima.
Thamaioa told this reporter that she is a health worker attached to an organization called “Love Burma Mission” (LBM). This mission, which is extended to five Naga villages in Myanmar, is a joint initiative of various Church organizations including Union Baptist Church, Kohima, City Church, Kohima, Chang Baptist Lashong Thangyen, Khiamniungan Baptist Christian Association and Phom Baptist Churches Association.
Thamaioa, who studied till class 8 in Dimapur Government Higher Secondary School, is one among the seven health workers currently attached to this mission. It is not even a year since she joined the mission. Though she is steadily recovering, the medical surgeon told this reporter that “only time will tell if she will be able to walk again.”
But this little girl, who has faith in God for total recovery, said she will continue with the mission once she gets recovered.
The family and the victim are grateful to the Union Baptist Church, Kohima and City Church, Kohima for meeting all the travelling expenses from Pangsha to Kohima, and also for making all the daily food arrangements for the patient, her family and relatives at the hospital. It was learnt that this was done voluntarily by families/members of both the churches that are part of the Love Burma Mission.
The family has also extended its sincere gratitude to the Chief Minister’s Office for arranging all the expenses for medical treatment. It is worth mentioning that the contact the CMO office for financial assistance was made possible through the efforts of the Naga Mothers’ Association.
“We also count the invaluable contributions of those individuals who have come out voluntarily to assist financially, materially and in prayer,” said one of the family members.
