Imphal, April 29: Important functionary and one of the founding members of the NSCN Angelus Shimrah passed away in the wee hours today at a private hospital in Dimapur.

He was 61 years old and is survived by five sons and wife.

The mortal remains was received by the collective leaders at Camp Hebron,off Dimapur, where a service prayer was also held today.

At the Ghq here he was accorded military honour by the Naga Army.

Representatives from the Naga Hoho, NSF, NPMHR and other NGOs as well as all ranks and files of the NSCN (I-M) attended the service.

Addressing the gathering at the prayer service, NSCN (I-M) Chairman Isak Chishi Swu recalled his association with the deceased.

He said late Shimrah had never faltered or failed in his "service".

Swu said the demise of Shimrah was a great loss "for all of us and the vacuum created would be difficult to fill." Likewise, NSCN (I-M) General Secretary Th Muivah said it was a huge loss.

"He was a personality representing the strength of the Nation," Muivah said.

"A person who can write, think and act is very few to find," the NSCN (I-M) General Secretary added.

Both Swu and Muivah further conveyed their condolences to the bereaved family members and prayed for the eternal rest to the departed soul.

Angelus Shimrah said to be one of the main think tanks of the NSCN-IM set up had been reportedly suffering from leukaemia for quite sometime now.

Top NSCN-IM leaders informed Newmai News Network today in Dimapur that Angelus passed away at 2 am on Sunday at the Zion Hospital.

Angelus Shimrah was holding the post Kilonser (Cabinet)without portfolio at the time of his demise.

He joined the Naga National Council (NNC) under AZ Phizo and later was among the founding leaders of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) in 1980.He was assigned with numerous important posts in the NSCN set up.

Angelus also led the Steering Committee of the NSCN-IM earlier.

This committee is the highest decision making body of the outfit.

Angelus also held various Kilonser berths with important portfolios.

Angelus Shimrah was arrested in Manipur by the police along with many top NSCN-IM leaders including deputy Home Kilonser VHoram in the 1990s but was released later from Imphal Sajiwa jail.

The mortal remains of the NSCN-IM leader was taken away from Dimapur at around 11 am for his native village in Ukhrul today.

Angelus Shimrah hailed from Pohye village of Chingai subdivision under Ukhrul district.

According to top NSCN-IM leaders in Dimapur the body of Angelus Shimrah will be received at many places as it proceeds towards his native village.

The reports also said that there will be a stop-over public programme at Ukhrul headquarters to honour the late leader before the mortal remains is finally laid to rest at Pohye village.

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