Süngratsü, January 9 (MTNews): Hundreds of mourners converged at Senden Lenten, Süngratsü village to pay their last respects and homage to the late Dr Imtiwpang Aier, MLA and former Speaker of Nagaland Legislative Assembly, before his mortal remains were laid to rest at his native Süngratsü village cemetery on Monday.
A host of dignitaries including Minister of PWD (Housing & Mechanical) Tongpang Ozukum, top State Government functionaries, NGOs and civil society leaders, political party workers and relatives including his clansmen delivered eulogies at the funeral service that lasted more than two hours.
Tongpang Ozukum described later Aier as a legislator who was respected by all the legislators. He added that the late leader participated and raised questions in the Assembly on pertinent points and proactively participated in budgets, motion of thanks and debates on Naga political issue.
“Even though he served in the opposition bench for most of his tenure, he was an active participant on public issue debates in the Assembly,” he asserted.
He also expressed heartfelt condolences on behalf of the Ao legislators and mentioned that he was the Chairman for Committee on Subordinate Legislation, an important Committee under Nagaland Legislative Assembly.
Takachiba Longchar, Village Council Chairman Süngratsü expressed in anguish, “Is it really true? These are the only words that come out from the mouths of every citizen of Süngratsü today. Nobody had imagined that such a day would befall upon Süngratsü.”
He also asserted that late Dr Imtiwapang Aier was a young and patriotic visionary leader, “blossomed in the beautiful garden of 23 Impur A/C.”
“It really hurts for us to console ourselves at this moment of grief that it was God’s will; his demise is a great loss and his absence will be deeply felt,” he said.
The wife and family of Aier, Asetkong Mungdang, Asetkong Kaketshir Telongjem Mungdang, Ngati Baptist Church Mokokchung, Aoli Imchen Mungdang, Kwang Langpi Semchir, Kohima Ao Baptist Arogo Senior Pastor Sentisashi Aier, Süngratsü Senso Mungdang and others spoke at the funeral service. The service was chaired by Arenla Lemtur while the word of God was delivered by I Kilen Longchar, Pastor Süngratsü Baptist Church.
The vanguard peer group (Süngjilep Zünga) of the village carried the late leader’s casket to the burial site after the funeral service.
The mortal remains of Dr Imtiwapang Aier reached Süngratsü, his native village, on January 8 evening and was received by the villagers with full customary honour. The whole stretch of the village road of Süngratsü was lit with traditional torches by the Süngratsü Students’ Union to pay respect and homage to the late leader.