Families of PRC victims place demands before government

Our Correspondent

Itanagar: The family members of the three youth who were killed in police firing during the Permanent Resident Certificate (PRC) mob frenzy here last month, on Monday placed several demands to the State Government for early fulfilment.

Addressing reporters at Arunachal Press Club (APC) here, Risso Kiagung, brother of Risso Tari, the first victim of the turmoil, informed that the family members of the deceased have submitted a memorandum to State Governor Brig (retd) Dr BD Mishra demanding the State Government to arrest the persons involved in the firing and handed them to the family members. The other demands of the members include, declaration of the deceased as martyrs, erection of their statues, declaration of the spot at under-construction BJP office where, the body of Risso Tari was buried, as ‘Martyr Ground’ and declaring February 22 as a state holiday every year in honour of Tari.

The members also demanded immediate suspension of Capital DC and SP besides termination of DSP who had wrongly prepared a report in regards to Risso Tari’s killing.

Though the State Government had announced ex-gratia of 20 lakh each to the kiths of the deceased, the family members have rejected it saying, that they only want justice for the youths who were ‘brutally murdered’.

“We have refused to accept the ex-gratia as money cannot bring back the lives lost in the incident. We don’t need anything but justice for the victims who have lost their lives for the cause of the people,” the family members said.

Terming the BJP government in the State as a ‘vampire’, the aggrieved family members further criticised it for dragging their names with the opposition political parties of hatching a conspiracy to politicise the PRC issue.

“The State Government should not mix politics with bloodshed… We don’t want to take any harsh decision by calling bandhs which will affect the common people but want peace and development for the people for which we did not want to revive the issue despite public supporting us at all times,” they said.

The family members along with thousands of people on Saturday last organised a candle light march here to pay respected to the departed souls.

The recent announcement of the state government to grant PRC to six non-Arunachalee communities residing in Changlang and Namsai districts since decades had evoked strong reaction among the indigenous tribal population of the State last month which led to killing of three youth on February 22 and 24 last.

While Risso Tari was killed near civil secretariat here on February 22, two other youth – Biki Ruja and Tsering Wangdi were shot dead on February 24 when an irate mob went to set ablaze the private residence of Chief Minister Pema Khandu at ESS Sector here.

Also read: Arunachal news