Essays of Pochury Festival

STORY BEHIND SEPTEMBER 6 BLACK daylight On August 14, 1960, the Naga multitude flak catchered Assam Rifle out-post at Thuda (Phor liquidation) in Pochury area. The attack was chthoniantaken by the Eastern Commands 1st Brigade under the command of Major General Zuheto, along with the then 4th camp of Pochury Region under the command of Lt. Colonel Thorpa. The monsoon was at its height during the time and alone major rivers equal Tizu, Lanye and Thethsii were in full spate. The attack was launched after destroying any the six bridges on all in all the rivers. This was done to stop reinforcing stimulus from reaching the besieged forces post.As the attack continued into the thirteenth day, ammunitions on both sides were running short and on several occasions the Indian origin Force trim tried to drop relief bodily and ammunitions but were pr howeverted by the Naga Army. At the same time the Indian Air Force jet fighters strafed the attackers positions. An Indian transport plane (Dakota) trying to drop relief materials and ammunitions to the besieged post was shot use up by the Naga Army on the 14th day of the siege and fall landed at Zathsii, a paddy field of Meluri settlement. The Naga Army captured all the 9 (nine) airmen including Flt.Lt. A. S. Singh. This led to a heavy army operation in Pochury area by the Indian Army, who was on a mission to seek and rescue the captured airmen, none of whom were ever tortured but were later flock free through the Red Cross. In the process of the army trading operations to rescue the airmen umpteen villages were burnt cut out and untold atrocities and tortures were inflicted upon the villagers. On folk 1, 1960, 6 (six) villagers from Phor village were tortured to death. Their names are Lt. Turachu, settlement Chief, Lt. Yutsuchu, Pastor, Lt. Chupuchu DB, Lt. Yituchu GB, Lt. Turuchu GB, Lt. Mughazu GB.Again on September 3, 1960 a nonher 3 ( tercet) villagers from Yisi village were beaten to death vid elicet Lt. Mazu GB, Lt. Throchu, Lt. Mazu RP. deuce villagers Lt. Yichuhu and Lt. Nyupuchu. from Mokie village were also beaten to death. In Laruri village, Lt. Lingsang was buried alive after severe beating. Lt. Nyukhrusuh and Lt. Rhorupa of Meluri village were beaten severely and after which, their full points were chopped-off. Two villages, namely Tsikuzo and Kuluopfu, were abandoned due to tortures and humiliations meted out by the Indian army. On 6th September 1960, the Punjab Regiment posted at Kangjang village reached Matikhrii village around 10 am.The entire village was encircled in three rings and all the villagers were ordered to gather in one place. hands folk were separated from women and children. All the men were made to keep jump and do sit-ups, for more than 5 hours in the scorching sun, naked. Any signs of weariness were met with kicks and hits with rifle butts. Then just before sunset, Indian army not satisfied with the punishment meted out to the villagers, ro unded them up inside the Village chiefs place and were forced to sit heads down like a lamb being lead to its slaughter. Lt.Thah, the then Village chief, subtle what was in store for them bravely volunteered to sacrifice. He stood bravely for the Naga cause even to his pass breath and said Its a mans pride. No surrender, no compromise for our birth right. This sacrifice is to protect our freedom. I shall gladly lay down my life for the Naga future generation. Then an Indian army jawan, holding a blunt dao(hatchet) chopped off the head of Lt. Pogholo who was first in the line. Witnessing the brutality and revulsion in front of their eyeball and knowing that all of them were going to be killed, one of the villagers managed to escape the murder forcefully.Then one after an other heads rolled down separated from the bodies, and in the event a total of nine lives were lost. Their names are Lt. Thah, Lt. Pogholo, Lt. Mezitso, Lt. Pongoi, Lt. Eyetshu, Lt. Zasituo, Lt. Thitu, Lt. Kek hwezu, Lt. Kezukhwelo. The Indian army did not even allow the loved ones to perform last rites and rituals for the dead. All the dead bodies were dumped inside the village chiefs house and were burnt down to ashes along with the other houses and granaries.The women and children who had fled to the jungle to evade the horror and torture of Indian Army came back the next morning to decree the whole village burnt down to ashes. Lt. Thitu who narrowly escaped from the transaction was found by his wife Mrs. Rhiitariih with three cuts on the neck, stomach weakened and intestines thrown out. He quoted Love, tell my beloved children the sacrifice I have borne for them and I am waiting to die in your lap with a cup of water and after drinking, he breathed his last. Another dupe Lt. Zasituo, traveling Pastor, was also found almost dead with multiple injuries on his chest and neck.Not long after, he died. Then the horrified women and children with no way simply covered the dead bodies wit h mud and left for the jungles fearing the Indian army might turn up any time. For days together, the survivors wandered in the complex jungle without proper diet and shelter. The wild berries and fruits of the jungle were their only food and means of survival. The only comfort and encouragement they could give to each other was the knowledge of glorious sacrifices made by their men folk. The wild animals and birds of the jungle were their only companions, besides themselves.In extreme conditions of hardships and difficulty, many more precious lives were lost. The Naga Army then came to their rescue. They were given food, shelter and protection. Even today, the nightmares and tragedy of the incident let off remain fresh in the mind of the survivors. In this long public exposure and exodus, the survivors entered Burma and stayed with the Naga Army in their camp at Sathi where Gavin Young of London perceiver met them in the later part of 1961. In his book Indo-Naga War, pageboy 2 9-30, he wrote that when he met the survivors, there were only a pathetic thirty people.They spent their lives in the wilderness for two and half years. In 1963, village re-establishment took place but normal life could not be restored for many years. The people of Pochury have ever since observed 6th September as BLACK DAY in memory of all those who had suffered and laid down their lives for the greater glory and freedom of the Nagas. It is a day of sadness and a day to acknowledgement of the sacrifices made by the martyrs. Khuosatho Nyusou, President, P1ochury Hoho Kohima (PHK). (Courtesy Pochury Students Union. )