Behali clash: NES reiterates demand for arrest of culprits

OUR CORRESPONDENT

Itagar, June 7: The Nyishi Elite Society has reiterated its demand for immediate arrest of the perpetrators of the heinous crime where two persons from Aruchal sustained serious burn injuries in mob attack at Behali in Assam’s Sonitpur district on Friday and demanded the culprits to be booked under the appropriate law of the land. The apex organization of the Nyishi community also demanded the state government to initiate confidence building measures forthwith in the area for ensuring uninterrupted movement of Aruchalees without fear or hesitation.

A team of NES executive members on the directive of its president Bengia Tolum paid a second round of solidarity visit to R K Mission Hospital here to meet Tadung Tachang (43) and Chaling tung (42) injured in Friday’s mob violence.

“As per past experiences, involvement of local CPI (ML) leader in generating the hypothetical assumptions on the death of one Kalu Orang, a local resident of Behali and inciting and flaring-up the mob attack on the innocent commuters of Aruchal Pradesh cannot be ruled out,” NES General Secretary Tarh Tabin said. He added that it was extremely unfortute that the union home ministry is in deep slumber when the people of Assam and Aruchal Pradesh are not in cordial atmosphere. “The union government has been a mute spectator on such frequent harassment and economic blockade meted out to the Aruchalees by such repeated instances taking the advantage of only corridor of the land locked state,” he averred.

“Ironically, our representative is manning the union home ministry. The union government had sent an Assamese Governor to Aruchal Pradesh with sealed mouth so as not to voice against such harassment of Aruchalees in Assam. As we must pass through Assam, the Aruchalees have no security while traveling and not sure whether they would reach their destition because of immediate bandhs in small-small pockets anytime without notice on silly reasons.”

Citing examples of May 24 last when the NH 52 was blocked at Gohpur over the reason that the local administration and police had carried out eviction of uuthorized gumties, the NES added that the two former successive Governors with military background had been doing well in such situations by coorditing with the Sonitpur district based defense forces.

“Such governors of defense background need to be recalled in this sensitive border state,” The society said.

The Society also observed that proper inquiry to unearth the truth behind the unfortute episode by a neutral agency is the ardent need of the hour for a lasting peace in the region.

The team however, extended heartfelt gratitude and thanks to the unknown elderly philanthropist of Behali who fetched the injured persons to Behali Police station in a motor cycle, thereby, facilitating timely medication.

The team conveyed the prayer and wishes of the President, NES for speedy recovery.

The team also extended a token grant of Rs 50,000 and Rs 30,000 to Tadung Tachang and Chaling tung.

Meanwhile, the incident evoked wide-spread condemtion from various unions and organizations in the state.

Joining the chorus of condemtion with regards to Friday incident, the NESO and AAPSU have together voiced their anger over the issue.

Stating that the body of the victim was found well within Assam’s jurisdiction, NESO coorditor Pritam Som called the actions of the mob that tried to burn three people alive from the state as inhumane.

He however, also thanked the two individuals from Assam who helped them get to safety.

AAPSU’s Suraj Tayum meanwhile has said that the state government must bear the expenses of the injured that are currently in RKM hospital here.

Arguing that the death of any person from Assam near the border cannot be blamed on Aruchalee people Tayum said that people must try to find out the truth.

The union also issued an “ultimatum” to the people from the area living here. “We demand that normalcy return within 24 hours in the area otherwise those from the Behali area working in the state should leave voluntarily”, he said and added that AAPSU would take its own course of action.

He also informed that the members of the union met with IGP N Payeng and asked him to co-ordite with counterparts in Assam.

Meanwhile, All East Kameng Students’ Union president Karbia Som said that he and his general secretary Arjun Flago were also attacked on the way yesterday although no one suffered any major injuries.

He also issued a similar ultimatum saying if “disturbances continue then labourers from the area working in East Kameng will be evicted”.

All Nyishi Students’ Union (ANSU) President Byabang Joram has termed the attack on Aruchalees and Aruchal registered vehicles as act of immature and unwanted as without knowing facts behind the death of one person they had attacked innocent people blindly which carries a wrong message for both the states.

“Instead of attacking innocent Aruchalees they should have lodged a complaint both at Assam and Aruchal police station for proper investigation over the death of one person,” said Joram in a statement here.

ANSU General Secretary Nyanya Gollo stated that there is an established law and procedures to deal with any accidents or incidents occurred anywhere in the country but retaliation on mere hypothestic assumption is a barbaric act and exemplary punishment from law enforcing authority is required to stop these incidents forever.

“It is very painful that all the time people of Assam are targeting Aruchalees for no reason at NH 52. We appeal all Assam people residing in Aruchal Pradesh to intervene and discuss the issue with the people of Assam and find some logical solution to stop all kinds of injustice to Aruchalees, especially in NH 52 so that the peaceful and old age relationship of two states may not harmed by the hands of a few immature people,” said Gollo. The union has further demanded the Assam government to book the culprits immediately to uphold the old age relationship between the two states and also called upon the Assam government to ensure safety and security of travelers at NH 52.

The All Nyishi Youth Association (ANYA) vehemently condemned the attack on the vehicles and individuals of Aruchal Pradesh and said that such incidents of notorious activities have often come in the news in the recent past.

ANYA President Biri Kakum has appealed the state government and the authorities concerned to look into the matter seriously and help the stranded passengers especially at Bhalukpong in West Kameng Dist bordering Assam by providing security arrangements to pass safely through the problematic area, till normalcy returns.

The ANYA also appealed the government of both the states to study the matter of the killing of an adivasi man tactfully to come up with the ground reality, and stated that it may be a conspiracy by some selfish and rrow minded individuals and groups to disturb the sanctity of both the states.

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