All Naga Students’ Association Manipur (ANSAM) paid rich tributes to the Naga martyrs on 19 June 2026 at ANSAM Memorial Park, Kapaam Village, Chandel District.
SHELLEY CHARA (1958-1995)
Shelly Chara, first drew public attention as an accomplished Table Tennis player and was State Champion for several years. Subsequently, activism became his passion and after a stint with the Moyon tribe student union became the President of ANSAM during the period 1986-88. It was during his tenure as President ANSAM that the infamous “Operation Bluebird” was launched in the wake of the Oinam incident and he became the Convenor of the Co-ordination Committee on Oinam Issue (COCOI). He was arrested under the Anti Terrorist Act in May 1988. In 1989, he contested in the Outer Manipur Parliamentary election supported by the All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur (ATSUM). In 1993, he became the Convener of NPMHR. He represented the NPMHR at various forum in India and abroad particularly on the issues of tribal peoples’ struggle forself-determination, justice and human rights. He was assassinated on 19 June 1995 by the non-state actors.
ASHUN R. JANGVEI (1961-1998)
Ashun R. Jangvei, joined the 14th Indian Artillery in 1985 and left his service in 1989. He served ANSAM as Social & Cultural Secretary in 1990. He was elected as President, Lamkang Students’ Union (LKK) in 1997 when the Kukis and Nagas were at the peak of a violent inter-tribal conflict. During this dark period, his youngest brother, Jv. Rengshing was killed by a Kuki armed group. Despite the tragic personal loss, he was emphatic and undeterred in denouncing the violence against the Naga people. As a result he was targeted and just barely a year after his brother’s death, he was martyred at the hands of the Kuki National Army.
NG. SANII (1920-1998)
Sainii of Tungam village was 78 years old and serving as a deacon in his church when he was killed by the indiscriminately firing of Manipur Rifles at Senapati bridge during the ANSAM agitation against the attempt of the Government of Manipur to create Sadar Hills District in Manipur. He died leaving his wife and four children. His wife is now more than 70 years old and often talks about his life and the values that he stood for.
NAMTHIUREI AΒΟΝΜΕΙ (1966-2005)
In June 2001, the Indo-Naga ceasefire was extended to all the Naga areas ‘Without Territorial Limits’. The Meiteis responded with violence against the Naga people’s quest for peace and proclaimed that ‘There are no Nagas in Manipur state’. The violence led to death of 18 arsonists who attacked Government’s establishments, including the state Assembly building. The Meiteis demanded that the anniversary of the death of the 17 violent law breakers be declared as a state holiday. In 2005, the State Government of Manipur declared June 18 as a State Holiday. ANSAM protested against this blatant insult to the Naga people. On July 19, 2005, Namthiurei, convinced that only extreme steps would evoke response from the state and Central Governments and reverse the glorification and legitimisation of the communal violence of June 18, took great personal risk and attempted to blow up the Irang bridge. Unfortunately he lost his life during the valiant act. He is survived by his wife and five children.
GEMCLIFF ZIMIK (1972-2007)
Gemcliff Zimik, born in 1972, served Zingtun Tangkhul Katamnao Long from 2004 till his untimely death in 2007. In 2006, he was made the Co–Convenor of Co-ordination Committee, Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong. During this time schools in Naga areas in Manipur were prompted to take their HSLC examination in Nagaland under NBSE as a protest against imposition of Manipuri language. While facilitating the student candidates to their respective examination centres in Nagaland, Gemcliff died in a car accident in the wee hour on 27 January 2007.
MR. NELI CHAKНО МАО (1990-2010) & MR. DIKHO LOSHOU MAO (1990-2010)
Neli Chakho was studying BA 2nd year at St. Joseph College, Bangalore while Dikho Loshou Mao was a 1st year BA student at St. Joseph College, Jakhama and both of them were promising students and hailed from Kalinamei village. They were martyred on 6th May, 2010 at Mao Gate. When the chief of Peace Naga negotiator and the Ato Kilonser of NSCN, Th. Muivah was heading for a visit to Somdal, his native village in May 2010, his entourage was banned from entering the state at Mao Gate by the Government of Manipur(GOM). Curfew was imposed and Mao Gate was heavily militarized. Protesting against the ban of entry of Mr Th. Muivah and against the unprecedented militarization, peaceful dharnas were organized by the Mao women under the aegis of NWU on the 4th and 5th May, 2010.On the morning of 6th May, a protest march was organized against the brutal assault of a middle aged man without any reason by the Manipur state forces stationed at Mao gate. As the protest march started off, Manipur Police force fired tear gas and stick bombs directly upon the protestors without any warning and this was soon followed by indiscriminate firings which injured more than hundred who were mostly women. Witnessing the violent onslaught upon the women folks, some youths including, Loshou and Chakho confronted the Manipur forces which resulted in the heroic duo being gunned down from the back. The Manipur armed forces went on a rampage destroying vehicles, properties, looted houses, raided and picked up many innocents and brutally assaulted them. That black day witnessed unbridled violence let loose upon our people at Mao Gate by the GOM.
MAYOPAM RAMROR (1979-2014) & RAMKASHING VASHI (1988-2014)
Ramkashing Vashi and Mayopam Ramror were killed on August 30, 2014 when the Manipur State Commandoes and Indian Reserve Battalion opened fire on a peaceful mass rally held in Ukhrul organised by the UNC against militarization of Naga Areas. Both of them were from Teinem village.
Mayopam was born on 9th February 1979. His father passed away when he was only five years old. After completing his XII standard, he went to Mumbai for hotel management studies and took up part time jobs to support his study. He married in 2012 and opened a fast food joint at Ukhrul. While actively participating in the peace rally, he met his tragic death and made the supreme sacrifice. He is survived by his wife and his only child.
Ramkashing was born on 1March 1988. He graduated in 2005 from Shillong. After working briefly in Bangalore, he moved to Mumbai and subsequently returned home. While at home, he was an active church choir member and also participated in a number of youth initiatives. In 2013, after his father passed away, being the eldest son, the entire responsibility of the family fell upon him and he became the sole bread earner. He married in early 2014. He fell down to the bullets of Manipur Police Commandos/IRBs while taking a active role in the Peace rally alongwith his fellow villager and fellow martyr Mayopam. His wife was expecting at that time of his martyrdom. He is survived by his wife and the posthumous child, Lanthingso Vashi who was born four months later.
KUKNALIM
