Compensation paid to Tawang fire victims' families: HM

From our correspondent

Itagar, March 13: Aruchal Pradesh Home Minister Kumar Waii on Tuesday informed the Assembly that the State Government has paid compensation to the people killed and injured during the police firing at Tawang on May 2, 2016.

At least two persons died and eight were injured when police opened fire on people protesting against the arrest of a Buddhist monk at Tawang in Aruchal Pradesh on May 2, 2016.

Lama Lobsang Gyatso, a Buddhist monk and the general secretary of Save Mon Region Federation, which has been opposing mega dam projects in Tawang and West Kameng districts, was taken into police custody on April 26 after an audio clip surfaced where he allegedly said that Guru Tulku Rinpoche, the abbot of the famous Tawang Mostery, should distance himself from

 hydro-power issues in the districts. He also allegedly questioned the abbot’s tiolity, claiming that he was from Bhutan.

Gyatso was released that evening but arrested again on April 28 after an FIR was lodged against him at Tawang police station following a meeting of the panchayat leaders of the district.

Opposing Gyatso’s arrest, hundreds of followers, many of whom were monks and nuns, assembled outside the police station to express their ire. Matters reportedly escalated and police then opened fire, killing at least two people identified as Tenpa, 28, and Nyima Wangdi, 22.

Responding to a question raised during question hour by BJP MLA Pani Taram, Waii said that the case, which was transferred to the special investigating team (SIT) of the crime branch of State police, is under investigation.

Replying to a supplementary, the Home Minister disclosed that on the recommendation of the inquiry report by additiol deputy commissioner of Jung, the State Government had transferred Tawang DC Duly Kamduk and the SP was put under suspension.