Kohima: Thinoselie Medom Keyho died in Kohima on October 30. He was 96. The veteran Naga National Council president held a long, storied career within the Naga Army and the Federal Government of Nagaland. Born in Chedema Village on May 11, 1930, he first joined the FGN in 1956 as secretary to the intelligence director.
The military veteran rose quickly through the ranks. He became a brigadier in 1957. Later, he led a 132-soldier contingent toward China in 1966 alongside political leader Th Muivah. By 1968, he earned the rank of lieutenant general and traveled to the People’s Republic of China for military training. His journey took a turn during the 1971 Indo-Pak war. He ended up in Dhaka, was handed over to the Indian Army by the Red Cross, and spent years in Tihar and Shillong jails before his 1976 release.
Keyho moved into civilian leadership after his military service. He led the Angami Public Organisation from 1980 to 1984 and headed the Naga National Workers’ Conference for nearly a decade. In 2016, he became president of the NNC. The Naga Students’ Federation expressed deep grief over the loss. They noted that his death marks the end of an era.
The group praised his life as a "reminder of historical consciousness, political conviction and the responsibility of carrying forward a people's aspirations." NSF president Mteisuding and assistant general secretary Veze Tunyi issued the statement. Mourners will gather for the funeral service at 12 noon on October 31 at Ruvetsiezou, Chedema.
Comments