The brutal massacre of NPP’s sitting MLA Tirong Aboh and ten others has sent shivers down the spines not only of the people of Arunachal Pradesh, but also the nation alike. The incident which can only be described as ‘infinitely macabre’ has bewildered entire nation which at the moment has devoted her heart and soul on the possible results of elections. As the news and first visuals of the annihilation started flashing across TV screens and social media, people momentarily bade goodbye to their election exhilaration and started condemnation with their choicest phrases. It seemed really difficult to come to terms with the fact that the incident has occurred in Arunachal, a place which enjoys pan-Indian esteem of the highest degree for showing zero tolerance to terrorism and is hailed as an oasis of peace in the Northeast, a block often equated with this menace. The day of ‘action’ has also been handpicked with precision as May 21, when the country observes it as anti-terrorism day. And at the moment, judging by choice of date, finesse of execution and volumes of terror that has been masterfully injected into the minds of the state’s populace, it seems that terrorism has emerged victorious, at least in this round.

‘Terrorism’ is not a newly devised word and has been in existence for centuries. Although it has now become an international phenomenon, in terms of degree of manifestation barring the middle-east, it is the entire sub-continent in general and India in particular that have become its victims with alarming regularity. And even if terrorism  has been defined variously based on the intended aims for which it is resorted to, the basic modus operandi  remains same all over world. It is pure violence directed against the prospective targets with the first-hand intention of attracting large scale attention. For the last thirty years or so, threat of terrorism has multiplied manifold and only  become more lethal with advancement of technology. Country-made guns have given way to AK- 47 and  crude bombs have been replaced by grenades and so on - that’s the only difference to be observed, while the ‘ism’ continues to worship ‘terror’ as its primary driving force.

The horrific incident no doubt has caused unparalleled anguish for the state, but it should also be kept in mind that terrorism, as is known and understood conventionally, has been rare or nil in this part of the land and had always fled in face of fierce nationalism displayed by Arunachalees.  

---

Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

<< Back to News List