Tamenglong, March 13, 2010: On a rare occasion, 11 Assam Rifles together with Luangdi village today organized a thanks-giving ceremony at Atonggiuning (Luangdi) village of Tamenglong district, where D Padma Kumar Pillay, then Captain of 8th GUARDS had an encounter with underground militants suspected to be NSCN-IM cadres on January 25 in 1994. He and two civilians were injured in the encounter.

But today D Padma Kumar Pillay is a Lieutenant Colonel.

Speaking on the occasion, Lt Col D Padma Kumar Pillay said that the enemy that rained a volley of bullets upon us was filled with anger, hatred and wildness.

He wants to spread the message of love, peace and non-violence to everyone including the people of Tamenglong.

Recalling the incident, Lt Col Pillay narrated that on receiving information of movement of UGs at Luangdi village, his troops under his command launched an operation, during which he sustained injuries in his arm, chest and leg.

Though he was severely injured, he showed concern for the other civilians who got injured on the same day.

While talking on the sideline of the ceremony to this reporter, Dingamang Pamei, one of the injured in the incident, said that he knew two things of the incident that happened about 16 years back.

He said, the bullets hit his thigh and when he woke up, he found himself at the hospital, and the people around him were narrating the story.

All the injured in the incident were said to have been recovered and continuing their lives.

They are Masebuiliu, daughter of Guilung and Dingamang Pamei, son of Kaibuanang Pamei of the same family.

When those injured in the incident came together here today at the thanks-giving ceremony, they all shed tears in joy recalling their days of agony.

The large number of villagers of Atonggiuning (Luangdi) village attended the ceremony.

Col Dashrat, Deputy Commandant, 59th Mountain Brigade, PS Chhonkar, Commandant of 11 Assam Rifles, Joseph Pauline, MCS ADM Tamenglong, D Dikambui, former president of Zeliangrong Union (AMN), Kaibuanang Pamei, former vice president of Zeliangrong Union (AMN) and some leaders of civil society organisations were also present.

The Atonggiuning (Luangdi) villagers submitted several memoranda to Col Dashrat, Deputy Commandant, 59th Mountain Brigade.

He assured of constructing a Youth Centre, providing solar lamps to every households and water facilities and will take necessary steps to improve the road so that vehicles can ply upto the village.

He also assured of giving all possible help to the remote village.

As part of the occasion, the 11 AR conducted a free medical camp at the village.

In the meantime, Lt Col D Padma Kumar Pillay donated a sum of Rs 25,000 to the family of those injured in the incident of 1994.PS Chhonkar, Commandant of 11 AR, Tamenglong also donated a sum of Rs 25,000 to Atongiuning (Luangdi) village.

Both the Lieutenant Colonel.

.DPadma Kumar Pillay and the villagers of Luangdi showing humanity to each other had enabled them to meet at the thanks-giving ceremony today.

Athan Pamei, Chairman of Luangdi village authority had made efforts to contact Lt Col D Padma Kumar Pillay, who is in Delhi, and made the thanks-giving ceremony a grand success.

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