State funeral accorded to legislator Dr. Imtiwapang Aier

Our Correspondent

Kohima, Jan. 8 (EMN): Former Speaker of Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) and MLA, Dr. Imtiwapang Aier, was accorded a state funeral at The Heritage (Old DC Bungalow), Officer's Hill, Kohima on Sunday.

Aier had passed away in Dimapur on Saturday morning after a brief illness.

He did his Bachelor of Science (B. Sc) Geology from NEHU in 1994; Master of Science (M.Sc) Geology from NU in 1996 and earned a Ph.D (Engineering Geology) from NU in 2005.

He had served as lecturer at Kohima Science College from 2000-2002; guest lecturer at Nagaland University 2005-2006; served at project assistant DST, New Delhi in 2005-2006; and was a senior research fellow, DST New Delhi from 2008-2011, wherein he successfully made a series of publications in both national and international levels.

Aier was also an IBC member, Leading Scientist of the World 2011, Cambridge University London England.

He entered politics and successfully contested the 12th NLA in 2013 as a Congress candidate from 23 Impur Assembly Constituency and was appointed as parliamentary secretary of Geology and Mining. He was elected as Speaker on March 21, 2017 and held this position till February 5, 2018. Subsequently, he was re-elected to the 13th NLA in 2018 from a NPF ticket before joining the NDPP last year along with several other legislators.

During the funeral service, eulogies were delivered by Sharingain Longkumer, Speaker, NLA; TR Zeliang Chairman UDA; Neiba Kronu, Minister of Planning and Coordination, Parliamentary Affairs; and Metsubo Jamir, Minister of Rural Development on behalf of Ao Legislators’ Forum.

Meanwhile, speeches were also delivered by President, Sungratsu Senso Telongjem Kohima; and President, Kohima Aoer Telongjem (KAT).

His wife Kiehungle, daughter, and I Toshitsungba Aier also spoke on behalf of the family.

Rev T W Yamyap Konyak, State Chaplain shared the word of God and offered the benediction while invocation was said by Pastor, Kohima Ao Baptist Arogo (KABA) and the programme was led by Khruohituonuo Rio, secretary in-charge, NLA , read out the condolence messages of Governor of Nagaland Prof. Jagdish Mukhi and Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio. Host of legislators, government officials and civil society organisations attended the programme; while the Nagaland Police gave the Guard of Honour.