ES Reporter

LONGDING, May 17:  A day after a civilian was killed at Pumao in a firing incident by the Indian Army, community based organisation and its frontal wings here held a meeting today and took several resolutions.
Expressing resentment over the firing incident, Wancho Society under the banner of Wancho Council held meeting  with its frontal wings and students organization. The council took various resolutions including holding a peaceful rally on May 18 at Longding.
The meeting was attended by the members of Wancho Council, Wancho students Union, Wancho Cultural Society, Longding District Students Union, All Wancho Women Welfare Society (AWWWS), Longding District Students Union and others.
Condemning the incident, President Wancho Council, Sompha Wangsa informed the Wancho society has unanimously taken a resolution to hold a peaceful protest rally against the inhuman act of Indian Army at Puamo where an innocent villager had to lose his life. 
"In our resolution, we have demanded the 19th Sikh Regiment to immediately  provide compensation to the victim's family.  Jobs for the family of the deceased who left behind his children and wife.  The administration must include the Wancho council in the inquiry committee. Rollback of the false press statement issued by Indian Army 19th Sikh Regiment on the Pumao encounter."
Besides, we will also submit a representation to Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, informed Sompha Wangsa while adding that if authority fails to take action in stipulated time, democratic and legal action would be pressed.
Condemning the incident, MLA Longding, Tanpho Wangno informed that the deceased was not part of the meeting but unfortunately became the victim of the bullet . "We will extend all possible help to the victim's family members and those injured. Now we have to control the situation so that such an incident shouldn’t be repeated," added the MLA .
Meanwhile, North East Student's Organization (NESO) also strongly condemned the killing of Lamdaan Lhukam(60) and the scores of civilians who were injured at Pumao and Khogla village in Longding District
 This act is unbecoming of the Indian Army which claims itself to be one of the most disciplined forces in the whole world. We have learnt that the incident occurred during a peaceful meeting which was held between the villagers and army personnel of 19th Sikh Regiment regarding an incident involving a few army personnel who had beaten up one Jimphu Wangnow for no reason earlier on Friday night, NESO said.
NESO , further added a commotion broke out when the army personnel who had no sufficient reason to explain their actions tried to leave the meeting midway which angered the villagers. The heinous crime purported by the Indian Army has severely contradicted the very underlying purpose for which they have been deployed for in the region which is to maintain law & order and to guard against external aggression.
 Such instances which have repeatedly taken place in different parts of the region over the years have created negative aspersion and also widened the gap between the civilians and the armed forces in such areas. There has to be accountability for such omission and commission, it said.
Further NESO has demanded the government to extend appropriate ex gratia to the deceased and injured people and also called for a thorough inquiry into the matter in its press statement.

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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

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