RANGLUA, OCT 6:

Thousands of mourners gathered at Ranglua on Monday to bid a final farewell to Panwang Wangham, the Paramount Chief of Rusa, who died at the age of 50 following a prolonged illness at Apollo Hospital in Guwahati.

Wangham, regarded as the traditional head of Rusa comprising five recognised villages—Rusa, Ranglua, Kamkuh, Tanglam and Hahshe—and several unrecognised settlements, was laid to rest at his residential village of Ranglua in the presence of family members, traditional leaders, public representatives and well-wishers from across the region.

Among those attending the funeral were Agriculture Minister Gabriel D Wangsu, Longding-Pumao MLA Thangwang Wangham, the ADC and senior officers of Kanubari, representatives of various Wancho villages, and people from neighbouring Assam and Nagaland.

Wangsu described the late chief as a respected traditional leader, a man of the people and a pillar of strength for the community. In a social media post, he said Wangham’s “quiet dignity and guidance” would be deeply missed and recalled the good times and memories shared with him.

The gathering reflected the respect and affection Wangham commanded across communities and beyond the traditional boundaries of his chiefdom.

Wangham was the eldest son of late Nokram Wangham. His family holds a significant place in the history of the region and was among the early royal families to engage with the modern administration as it began taking shape in the area.

His death has left a deep sense of loss among the people of Rusa and the wider Wancho community, where traditional institutions continue to play an important role in social and community life.

He is survived by his mother, two wives, one son and three daughters.