Phawang Lowang refutes charges, denies truck with militants

A CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: Phawang Lowang on Sunday refuted allegations about his association with the Naga Army (Ollo) and said such an organization does not exist.

Lowang was the BJP rival of slain MLA Tirong Aboh for the Khonsa West Assembly constituency. Gunmen believed to belong to a Naga extremist group had gunned down Aboh, who won the seat on a National People’s Party ticket, and 10 others on May 23. A few days ago, the Naga Army (Ollo) had in a leaflet asked the people to either vote for Lowang or face dire consequences. Besides warning, the group also threatened any political party or group that would contest against him in the bye-election from Khonsa West.

Addressing media persons at the Press Club here on Sunday, Lowang said that the notice circulated in the name of Naga Army (Ollo) was politically motivated and also that he has lodged an FIR against the organisation at Laju Police Station.

“I do not need to put pressure my people to cast vote for me as the people support me,” he said, adding that the “cheap act” by the group was to malign his image. He also said that the Aboh’s assassination was not politically motivated.

Lowang requested the slain MLA’s widow Chakat Aboh to refrain from dragging his name with the self-styled Naga organisation and in the assassination of her husband or NPP party worker Jalley Anna.

“I have always been supportive in the investigation to find out the people behind the assassination. I had, in a memorandum to the State Governor, even sought a faster probe,” he said.

However, Lowang doubted Aboh’s contacts. He requested the State government and the district administration to find out the background of the people standing in a picture with Aboh in camouflage during the last election campaign in the constituency.

Lowang also said that the problem the people of Tirap-Changlang-Longding areas are facing from the underground elements can never be controlled. But the State government and the people of the area can together minimise the problem, he felt.

He denied having connection with any leader of the underground groups active in the area.

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