ITANAGAR, July 21: The Home Department of Arunachal Pradesh Government asserted that it is aware of the hurt sentiments of the common citizens after the attack on senior journalist Tongam Rina, Associate Editor of Arunachal Times on July 15 and are trying their utmost to nab the culprits, stated a release. Parliamentary Secretary of Home, Gadam Ete said that the Chief Minister has been constantly monitoring the progress of the investigation by holding review meetings everyday. Specific directives have also been issued to the investigating officials to treat the case as special one and therefore leave no stones unturned to solve it immediately.

“While respecting the sentiments of the people and appreciating the concern expressed by civil society organizations, the government is doing all it can. We admit and recognize the outburst of emotion through dharnas, processions and vigils as genuine but at the same time the position of the government and sensitivity of the case at hand has also to be understood and appreciated. My sincere appeal to the people is to maintain peace, keep patience and give time to the police to complete the investigation,” said Ete in a press statement. It needs mentioning that the attack on the journalist has led to a display of public outburst with continuous protest marches and dharnas staged across the State, particularly in the State capital. This protests have hampered the investigation process since most of the police personnel and officers of the capital are engaged in overseeing peaceful conduct of the agitational programmes. Thus the energy and focus of the police department has been diverted away from the case, slowing down the investigation process, said Ete.

Calling Tongam Rina an honest an upright journalist, Ete urged upon all to co-operate with the administration in speedy delivery of justice.

He said, “Attack on her is not an attack on a particular community, tribe, religion or region, it is an attack on every law abiding and concerned citizen of the State. It is an attack on democracy and humanity. Therefore, it is the duty of each and every right thinking citizen to ignore, dissuade and even force any such forces attempting to give the incident any other colour than what it is a plain inhuman act of a criminal.” He further urged all not to give the incident a communal, political or regional colour.  

Ete said that the Chief Minister has also kept options open to hand over the investigation to other competent agencies in case the State police failed to do so in a specific time frame.

The government also thanked all for supporting Rina at her hour of need. He said that the Government will be satisfied only when the journalist is fully recovered and back to work and the culprits are kept behind bars.