State government accused of ignoring safety of people

From Our Correspondent

Itagar, Feb 6: The Aruchal ga Students’ Federation (ANSF) has accused the state government of ignoring the safety and security of the people of the three insurgency-affected districts of Tirap, Changlang and Longding (TCL). In a release today, the ANSF informed that a gun battle between NSCN (K) and the Indian Army (4th Sikh Regiment based in Longding) took place at Ozakho village in Longding district on February 2, wherein a cadre of the outfit was reportedly killed and another was captured alive. According to the ANSF, life at Chubam Block in Wancho area has become miserable due to intensified warfare between the ‘groups’. “We are deeply hurt and upset by the stoic silence maintained by the state government during such situation”, the ANSF said. “The Aruchal Government is busy talking about big things of development, but has miserably failed to protect the life and properties of the people,” the ANSF said, and accused the state government of giving least attention to these three districts.

The students’ federation also said that the lives of common people in Tirap and Changlang area have become less precious than animals as the people in the helm of affairs do not bother even though many people are killed and kidpped, the ANSF said in its release, before flaying the ruling state government for failing to maintain peace and tranquility in the region.

The federation appealed to the Union Home Ministry and Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju to intervene in the matter and take appropriate measures to stop gunfight and bring back peace and normalcy in the area. In 2012, a gun battle between NSCN-IM and NSCN-K led to burning down of 18 houses in the same Ozakho village, it added.