NSCN (IM) supremo Th Muivah arrived in Manipur’s Ukhrul district on October 22 to visit his native village of Somdal, marking his first return in more than 50 years, officials said. The 91-year-old Naga leader landed at Bakshi ground in the district headquarters by helicopter.

Thousands of Naga women in traditional attire and men holding spears and wearing headgears gathered to welcome him. “It is an emotional moment for all of Nagas and me. We grew up listening to his story. He is a legend,” said A Horam, one of those present to greet Muivah.

Muivah, the principal negotiator in the Naga peace talks with the Centre since the NSCN (IM) entered a ceasefire in 1997, is expected to stay in Somdal for a week before travelling to Dimapur via Senapati district on October 29, an official said. A

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