Ukhrul, October 22: NSCN (IM) supremo Th Muivah on Wednesday arrived in Manipur’s Ukhrul district to visit his native village Somdal after more than 50 years, officials said.

The helicopter with the 91-year-old Naga leader on board landed on the Bakshi ground in the district headquarters, they said.

Thousands of Naga women in their traditional attire, and men holding spears and wearing headgears have turned up to welcome the Naga leader.

Muivah, who is the principal negotiator in the Naga peace talks with the Centre, since the NSCN (IM) entered into a ceasefire in 1997, is likely to stay in Somdal village for a week before departing for Dimapur, an official said.

A Horam, who came to welcome Muivah, told Times of Senapati, “It is an emotional moment for all of Nagas and me. We grew up listening to his story. He is a legend.”
Several NSCN IM senior leaders have also arrived in the Tangkhul Naga-majority Ukhrul district on Tuesday.

Several hoardings and wall paintings of Naga leaders have been put up in the district headquarters.

Locals carried out a cleanliness drive at different parts of the Ukhrul headquarters overnight, ahead of his visit.

Muivah will head for his native village of Somdal, located 25 km from the district headquarters.

The Naga leader will stay for a week at Somdal and leave for Dimapur via Manipur’s Senapati district on October 29, he added.

(By Our Correspondent)