The Arunachal Times - Archives

Roing under seige, Govt order magisterial enquiry

ROING, Aug 3: The Roing town today was under siege, as mob went berserk rampaging govt offices and building. A rumor that three IRBn personnel named in killing 55-year-old man Miti Mepo was flown out of town sparked the riot.

The protestors were demanding arrest of the culprits and when the rumor started to spread that they were not even arrested and instead flown away, the public got agitated and then went on rampage.

Within minutes, whole town came to standstill, as angry mob went about rampaging govt offices for four hours. First the mob attacked Deputy Commissioner’s office and started damaging whatever came in their way. Office chamber of Extra Assistant Commissioner and Judicial Chamber was partially damaged, as some attackers tried to burn down the office. All the office chambers in the office compound were completely ransacked, including that of Deputy Commissioner herself.

Police vehicles stationed outside the building was also damaged. Some few policemen who were inside the police station lay helpless being outnumbered, as mob went about doing their job.

The office of the Superintendent of Police was also not spared as the mob went about ransacking the whole building.

When they started approaching towards Arunachal Armed Police barrack, they were stopped by policemen with gun fire raging the air, going for few minutes. Even then the mob went on challenging the armed police personnel. The mob retreated after some senior members intervened requesting them to disperse, then they finally retreated.

The rampage went about even when a large crowd had gathered in a meeting called by Idu Mishmi Culture and Literary Society (ICLS) in the Rehko (Idu Mishmi traditional hall) compound to discuss on demands to be placed before the visiting State Police head. Director General of Police, Ms Kanwaljit Deol had flown today morning straight from Itanagar to Roing hearing about the last night incident. She was accompanied by DIG Robin Hibu and Itanagar SP Chuku Apa.

Culprit surrenders at

7 am today morning

Though the incident of attack on late Miti Mepo took place yesterday at around 8 pm, the IRBn personnel involved surrendered today at around 7 am in the morning to OC J Molo, 10 hours after they had remained holed up inside their room in the IRBn barrack.

The three IRBn personnel accused in the murder, fearing of mob attack, locked themselves inside a room, with their service rifles. They refused to surrender until the mob cleared out of the compound.

After the crowd had left, CRPF personnel were deployed to take control of the situation and fire service called in. It was 3 am early in the morning, when situation was calmed down.

The three IRBn personnel have been identified as Constable Nikja Raja, MK Tikhak and S Songthing. Along with the three, seven more other IRBn personnel also were trapped inside, along with Sub Inspector B Borang.

‘We don’t want indiscipline

police personnel’

Coming out heavily against the three accused IRBn personnel, the visiting DGP Deol said, “Departmental action will be initiated against the three IRBn personnel accused in the murder.”

Meanwhile, MLA appealed the AIMSU members not to call any bandhs and assured to support any union’s stand if there is proper consultation. Condemning the act of IRBn personnel, he called for appropriate disciplinary action against them.

W Ringu sharing her anguish with the family and community, said, “Silence of administration doesn’t mean its weak, but it is a restraint to share the pain.”

No trust in the system

The common sentiment arising out of the meeting with visiting police head was about how people were starting to loose faith in the system.

A young student member said, “We don’t have much expectation from the govt, since we know, at the most, the culprits will be initiated with some disciplinary actions, and then expressing inability because of the legal loopholes, ultimately they will be free.”

Another community member said, “When the officials involved in the Rs 15 crore heist can roam so freely, what is the guarantee that the IRBn personnel will be punished?”

Expressing total lack of faith in the govt, in utter frustration, a member of the bereaved family demanded handover of the culprits to the community, so that they can be punished according to law of the land.

AIMSU secretary Rajiv Mihu, echoing the public concern too expressed lack of faith in the govt.

In a joint demand made along with ICLS, they demanded for immediate termination from job of the accused IRBn personnel and proper compensation to the bereaved family.

Aftermath of rampage

At evening, MLA Umbery accompanied by Deputy Commissioner and several other govt officials went about to inspect the extent of damage caused in the rampage.

He expressed regret that people do not understand that ultimately they are destroying their own property.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu has ordered for a magisterial enquiry to bring to light the whole incident.

He ordered for immediate release of Rs. 5 lacs to the victim’s family as compensation and has assured to take punitive actions against the culprits found guilty in the bizarre incident.

The chief minister has appealed the people of the state to have faith on the government as it is taking all out effort to ensure that the culprits are rightly punished according to the law of land.

All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union (AAPSU) has strongly condemned the merciless attack on Miti Mepo allegedly by the IRBN personnel which resulted into his death on Monday evening in Roing, Lower Dibang Valley.

AAPSU urged the concern authority to give exemplary punishment to the culprits involved in the incident at the earliest possible time.

AAPSU president Takam Tatung said that the latest incident has once again proved that security personnel are themselves responsible for taking law into their hand instead of up-keeping it. “When the law keepers itself take law into their hand, what can you expect? Where will you go?” question Tatung. The Union urged the State government and its Home Department for introspection and answer all the queries of the people of the State regarding complete failure in security system.

The Union, meanwhile, fielded for early establishment of a State Human Right Commission in the State.

Global Human Rights Organisation (GHRO) while condemning the incident demanded immediate arrest of erring IRBn personnel. It also asked the state government for establishment State Human Rights Commission for redressal of people’s grievances.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) condemned the alleged attack of IRBn personnel on one Miti Mepo in Roing leading to his death yesterday. Claiming that many similar incidents have been taking place in various parts of the state at the hand of uniform-men, the Party said the people have lost faith on Govt machinery due to deteriorating law and order situation in the state. The BJP demanded white paper on law and order situation and formulation of proper strategy to prevent such unwanted incidents before it goes out of the hand.

Mesmerized school children’s unforgettable date with Kalam

ITANAGAR, Aug 3: It was dream come true for many students of the state Capital to hear the thoughtful speech of former President of India Dr. A.P.J.Abdul Kalam, when he addressed the students at Durbar Hall, Raj Bhawan here today.

Around 500 enthusiastic school children, parents and teachers welcomed Kalam with a standing ovation at the Hall.

“You have beautiful gift in the form of land of Arunachal Pradesh,” said Dr Kalam who was fascinated with the enchanting beauty of Arunachal Pradesh.

In his characteristic fashion, the former President of India who is often called the People’s President impressed upon children about the need to be righteous and courageous.

Inspiring the students with anecdotes from the lives of prominent personalities, Dr Kalam asked the children to have courage to think differently, to discover the impossible and have ambition in life. “Knowledge makes you great,” he said to the children.

Dr Kalam asked the school children to develop reading habit and establish a home library. He said “a library is a life-long treasure and precious asset of a family.”

Dr Kalam also covered wide range of topics from the power of knowledge to missile technology to the need of clean environment during his interactive session with the children.

State Governor J J Singh described the event as most illuminating and memorable one with the inspiring speech of Dr Kalam, who apart from being a good human, is a scientist and philosopher.

Singh was of the view that every individual should utilize the god gifted brain fully and think differently for personal as well as nation’s development.

Earlier, NERIST director Joram Begi lauded Dr Kalam for his mission to make the children and youth of the country good human beings.

Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, his ministerial colleagues, Govt officers and large number of invitees attended the programme.

The opt repeated Govt recipe

Tongam Rina

Even as the state awaits justice for Late Jumchi (Tachi) Nguso who died at the hands of State Police on July 15, there is yet another report of police brutality that resulted in a death. This time it was Miti Mepo, a father of four children who died after being given the infamous Police treatment last night at Roing.

Allegedly, he was beaten up so bad by the IRBn personnel that he died within half an hour after he was brought to the hospital.

The citizens took on from there. Frustration, anger and despair drove the people to take out their anger at public property.

Time and again when the justice fails, it is only matter of time people takes law into their hands because they know unless they use force nothing tangible is going to come out. Be warned that this is just the beginning.

The People First government and its Home Ministry need to answer to its citizens. It needs to look beyond opt repeated recipe of announcing compensatory money, a govt job for the victim’s family and suspension of the erring personnel in uniform and enquiries that takes ages to complete. The recipe so often used by the government to legitimise these heartbreaking deaths is almost laughable and it borders on absolute apathy.

Going by the precedence, it looks like government is contemplating to create a department that would exclusively dish out compensatory money for those at the receiving ends of the Police brutality.

Is the government daring its own citizens or are they on a mission to test the patience of the people?

IRBn has for long been associated with violence. These young boys who are barely out of their teens instead of being upholders of law have been in news for a long time for taking law into their hands.

Intriguingly the government has legitimised the brutal actions of these mindless young boys by refusing to do anything substantial. It’s about time, government take control of these boys before citizens start acting.

And going by the Naharlagun and Roing incidents, it’s only a matter of time, citizens decide for themselves what they want to do to ensure public safety. Gone are the days, when people accepted whatever they were given.

NERIST awaits People’s President

ITANAGAR, Aug 3: NERIST is all set for its second convocation scheduled for Wednesday which would be attended by People’s President Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.

The former President of India would deliver the Convocation address and award Gold Medals and Degrees to the successful students in the fields of sciences, technology and management.

NERIST shall award I5 M. Tech, 10 M. Sc. (FO), 12 MBA, 171 B. Tech. and 11 B. Sc. (FO) degrees, including 10 Gold medals for the year 2009, and for the year 2010, 11 M. Tech., 11 M. Sc. (FO), 34 MBA, 125 B. Tech. and 15 B. Sc. (FO) degrees, along with 10 Gold medals, in the Convocation on 4th August, 2010. This year NERIST will also be awarding its first Ph. D. degree to a Computer Sc. and Engineering scholar.

Besides, Diploma Module and Certificate Module pass out students of both 2009 and 2010 batch are going to get their diplomas and certificates.

Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, Gen. J. J. Singh, who is also the President of the NERIST Society, Prof. Gautam Baruah, Director of IIT-Guwahati and who is also the Chairman of NERIST Board of Management, and a host of other dignitaries are slated to grace the occasion.

Citizen tortured by Assam Police, ANSU demands action

ITANAGAR, Aug 3: All Nyishi Students Union (ANSU) has drawn the attention of state government towards the incident of 2nd August in which one Talla Joram of Village Joram, Lower Subansiri district was brutally tortured by Assam police at Laluk without any valid reasons.

ANSU has described this act as an attempt to murder and has requested authorities to punish those erring officers under provision of Indian law. P Nath, officer-in-charge, Pankaj Kumar Ray, sub-inspector and a couple of constable who were on duty mercilessly tortured Tall Joram physically and mentally. It is to be noted that Laluk is an important section through which people of Arunachal crosses everyday to their respective destination.

ANSU has urged state government to immediately intervene in this regard and pursue the matter with their Assam counterparts.

NABARD promotional prog

ITANAGAR, Aug 3: NABARD, Arunachal Pradesh Regional Office, in its effort to provide benefit of its promotional programmes in every district of Arunachal Pradesh would be conducting a one day Programme on its promotional programmes, in collaboration with District Administration, at Koloriang on Aug 5.

The Chief Guest of the Programme would be Bidol Tayeng, Deputy Commissioner, Kurung Kumey, which will be attended by officials from Government Departments, Banks, Lead District Manager, KVK, banks, Public Representatives, SHGs and NGOs. The Programme is aimed at creating awareness among the people regarding the various schemes of NABARD as well as centrally sponsored schemes being implemented through NABARD. This will provide opportunity to farmers, unemployed youth, entrepreneurs to sharpen their skill, get knowledge of latest technology, attend employment generating programmes, improve productivity and bring diversification resulting in overall economic growth of the district and also increase financial inclusion in the district.

‘Maintain recruitment guideline’

ITANAGAR, Aug 3: All Papum Pare District Students’ Union (APPDSU) and Totpu Panchayat Youth Welfare Society urged the head of institutions like Principal, Headmaster and Teacher In-charge of various schools to issue release orders to those teachers who had been recently transferred under APPDSU Teacher Drive within seven days. Both the organizations also appealed to the deputy commissioner and Papum Pare DDSE not to entertain retention case of transferred out teachers in any circumstances.

While expressing resentment over teachers’ reluctance to join duty at their new posting places, they demanded the authorities concerned to hold up payments of those in-obedient teachers.

Commenting that non-release of salaries to SSA teachers on time also made them less interested in their profession, TPYWS appealed to the state government to also release stipend to students regularly so that necessary educational expenses of the students could be met out of that.

Land acquisition by Army

ITANAGAR, Aug 3: Commander 82 Mountain Brigade Along and ADC Hayuliang R.K.Borthakur, held a meeting on Aug 3 for acquiring proposed land for defence establishment at Chaglogam and Metengliang.

The Commander, along with Circle Officer, Chaglagam and Commanding Officer, 14th Jak Rifles, Hayuliang inspected the proposed site at Metengliang.

The Commander, later visited Metengliang Middle School and distributed some textbooks and notebooks to the students.

Coordination meeting of 11th West Seppa

Bana, Aug 3: During a coordination meeting of MLA, local administration, PRI leaders, held at tourist lodge Bana recently it was unanimously resolved that all the irregular and erring teachers and other govt. officeil shall be terminated as per the CCS rules.

MLA Tani Loffa assured the people of more developmental scheme in the days to come. Appealing the people to forget the differences, he said the election and the politics is over and it is times to work together for the development of the area. Adding that one should not depend only on the construction departments like PWD, RWD and Electrical rather they should look forward to other departments like agriculture, horticulture and fishery for the development of the society.

Loffa asked EAC Bana, W. Ramdasow to take strong action against those who are not sincere in their duties and the responsibilities.

Farmers Club at Roing

ITANAGAR, Aug 3: National youth Project of Arunachal Pradesh inaugurated 10 Farmers Club under Roing Circle in Lower Dibang Valley.

In the Inaugural function more than 150 participants attended which was chaired by District Horticulture Officer S.K.S Gautham.

He assured the farmers clubs to extend all his possible help which may encourage the farmers to take up number of activities other than traditional practices.

On the day the officers highlighted number of issues related to promotion of farmers in various agricultural and allied activities.

SBI Branch Manager Jiban Das assured the farmers club to extend all his possible afford to help the Farmers related to bank loan.

Association urges NERIST to follow guidelines

ITANAGAR, Aug 3: Nirjuli Contractors’ Welfare Association (NCWA) demanded the NERIST BoM to strictly maintain recruitment guidelines against all categories of posts for Arunachalees at NERIST.

Reminding the NERIST authority regarding appointments in various grades, the association claimed that one person is absorbed in Grade ‘A’ and ‘B’ while in Grade ‘C’ and ‘D’ it is five percent against total 45 per cent.

According to letter issued by the Union Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, department of Personnel and Training, the total quota of reservation for the STs of Arunachal Pradesh in all categories of posts is 45 percent. The association demanded the NERIST authority to provide maximum opportunity to the locality of the area concerned.

‘Stay at posting place’

ITANAGAR, Aug 3: Kargu Kardi Students Union demanded the District Administration and the State Government to direct the absentee and duty evading Govt. employees of various Departments to go back to their posted area and attend their duties. It appealed the concerned authority to act fast and said that all absentee staffs should return to their duties before Aug 15. Otherwise the union will have no option but to agitate, a release stated.

Temporary offices are being run in rented apartments at the District Headquarters, the Union said while adding that employees are being provided with Govt. Quarters in the Headquarters whereas they are serving at outpost. The poor villagers are left with uncountable hardship in absence of employees at their posted places and they have to travel all the way to the District Headquarter (Aalo) for meager official work, it said.

Society alarmed at indiscriminate killing of animal

ITANAGAR, Aug 3: Despite ban slaughtering of sheep & Yak was banned at Tawang in 2009, there are reports of slaughtering of Sheep by the local butchers in the township of Tawang for commercial purposes. Environment Protection Society, Tawang in collaboration with YUVA lodged a complaint against the offenders and got them convicted today in the district court.

As per a survey carried out, EPS says that indiscriminate killing of Yak and indigenous sheep for meat purpose, have endangered these species and these are at the verge of extinction.

EPS said that sheep and Yak have a close relation with day to day socio cultural activities of local populace of the district and extinction would adversely effect in the Monpa society irreparably. EPS calls on all members of society to work for preservation of these precious animals.

An appeal to family and friends of Policemen

Dear Editor,

What is wrong with policemen? Are they deaf? Hue and cry of public all goes in vain. May be we have not done enough to convince them of their misdeeds or they no more value us.

We request friends, relatives and family members of policemen to help us in settling the issue peacefully. They need to talk to them and remind their duties-preserving peace and harmony.

They are so dear to you and vice-versa. So definitely they will listen to you. Do not go hard; speak politely and carefully while taking dinner. You can do this while giving a good night kiss to your dad. Tell him you love and respect him a lot and want other to do so. If you are far away call up and tell them it hurts you when someone condemns the policemen once known for discipline.

Hope that it goes well. Lets make Arunachal a peaceful place.

Yours

Bochi Basar

Banglore, (on email)

Police has a choice to make

Dear Editor,

The killing of innocent people at Itanagar and Roing and the brutal rape and murder of a young girl at Rupa show the mentality and the high handedness of the police and the armed forces, which is not a rare incident for the people of north-east who have suffered at the hands of the AFSPA. These illiterate, even though they are considered literate because they can sign their names in scrawny handwritings and read, and cowards believe they have the license and the legitimacy to assault anyone they like, instances are galore where people have been harassed and unnecessarily beaten up on the mere pretexts. Most of the time these psychopants are drunk and they have and show no respect for the common people like us. They don't have a mind or moral conscience of their own. They are hardly concerned about the law as most of the time they get off lightly. Our state has been very quite compared to the other states of the region; do they want the people of Arunachal too to raise a banner of hatred against them? The choice is theirs. But the people who run the show have to own up to their responsibilities and cannot hide behind the curtains. The various student bodies and other organisations deserve appreciation for putting up resistance against the action of the police, the armed personnels and the state government.

Yours

Mr Arunachal (on email)

The road and the notice board

Dear Editor,

The very recently, I visited the Leporiang area. One thing that caught my attention the pathetic road condition between the De-Dolo to Leporiang.

The bad road condition reminded me about an item in the newspapers which reported in 2007 that the road will be all weather types road. But unfortunately, after three years nothing has changed.

And as a matter of faith the crores of money has been sanctioned by the DONER’s under CRF for widening, cross drainage, protection work, black topping and Pucca drainage. But it is very funny to see all that qualities are seen in the notice board only!

The executing agency could not utilize the money in a proper way.

The officers and public leaders are responsible for the bad condition of the road. It is a crime to mismanage public money and the authority concerned should terminate the unfit officers.

If not the department should answer to the thousands of citizens who have been deprived of a good road.

Yours

Gollo Lento

All Sagalee Students Union

Misplaced action

Dear Editor,

Vilas Bardekar's release brings as much relief as it exposes the inefficiency of our police forces. Its a shame that the abducted was released, and not rescued. This incident is not the first time for the Assam based outfit. It has abducted many Arunachalees in the past. And in all instances the Arunachalee police have been no more than a silent spectator. Instead of torturing doctors and knocking down bus conductors and later on killing them they should divert their energy on fighting elements like the NDFB. That way, at least they can earn back a little bit of their lost respect.

Yours

Bengia Abo, RIMS Imphal

Make way for Arunachalees

Dear Editor,

I don't understand why the govt is so interested in giving opportunity to Non-APST. Our bonafide indigenous people are not allowed to work in other states for so many reasons. How many APST people are working in Assam state department? The Answer may be negligible or may be nil. They don't even give space in private and PSU sectors. This is the scenario of other state, but in our state we can see how many people are working in our state. Does it mean that we don't have eligible or qualified person in our state? I don't think so. What I feel is that this reservation for Non APST should be abolished. It should be 100% reserved for APST.

We should think about our people. I don't think that in this stage our people are not qualified to teach Maths and sciences

Yours

G.T. Taba

Nirjuli, (On email)

Time for Arunachal to take a call

Dear Editor,

The recent mysterious death of APST bus conductor Late Jumchi Nguso and physical assault on Dr. Tana Talin Tara by police personals in uniform is a big blow to democracy and highly condemnable. This shameful and unfortunate incident has once again proved that there exists no relationship between our beloved citizens and police forces, whose primary duty, I suppose is to safeguard the common people and to curb unwanted elements instead of killing innocent people under custody. It is a matter of appreciation that the state Government has appointed Bayi Nguso, wife of Late Jumchi Nguso as bus conductor on a special case after receiving strong pressure from various state organizations or NGOs including apex student body AAPSU. Thanks to the various organizations, and I hope such united move from the general public in the hours of dire need would continue in the long journey of life. It’s a great surprise for us that how many such cases would have been disposed without public knowledge in many interior far-flung areas of Arunachal Pradesh. If such unfortunate incidents continue to occur in the near future, the people may lose faith in people’s first Government led-by Dorjee Khandu and anarchy may prevail. Both police and citizens are human beings in all aspects and the difference lies only with brown colored uniform. I think it is high time for police personnel to understand and respect the importance of human values. I hope the state government, particularly the Ministry of Home would instruct appropriate and basic training programs to police about the handling of human cases and such unwanted physical harassment does not contain any appropriate sense except in few sensitive cases in a peaceful state of Arunachal Pradesh. This way of showing physical strength by the forces in uniform, leading to mysterious murder of many innocent citizens. Information from various sources suggests that recent recruitment to the various posts of Civil Aviation department without advertisement is totally illegal and would rather invite unwanted anti-social elements in the future ahead. We can’t blame a particular politician or leader rather we are equally responsible for choosing a wrong leader which is to be realized by the voters at grass root level in the coming elections. Fooling of largely uneducated voters during election and making big promise that are never fulfilled is a popular strategy adopted by many educated candidates or politicians during election. I still remember that during my schooling we have been taught only 2-3 selected chapters throughout the session and still today there is no teacher to teach subjects like Science and Mathematics at Govt. M.E. School, Boha under the Circle Kalaktang. There are many villages in the state without electricity, roads, Doctors, and teachers in schools. These things are fundamental to improve the rural people’s life. It is really true that Capital road is meant for racing only VIPs vehicles and the pathetic road conditions is as same as 10 years ago. Such a narrow road is also responsible for the rise in the number of road accidents. I fail to understand that with so many implementations of centrally-sponsored schemes (needlessly to mention like NRHM, SSA, RGGVY, PMGSY, etc) aiming to uplift rural living standards, why everything is lagging behind, raising the lack of honesty in governance. Though it is very difficult to change the system, but one must remember that the power to change lies within all of us and many more developments would come in the near future with the change of individual age old mind setting. In a recent development at Roing town where an old man was mercilessly beaten up by IRBn personnel leading to his death once again proved violations against fundamental human rights. Keeping in view the recent rise of human rights violation, the state government deserves many such bandhs or protest from mass people participations in the future. Taking recent example of State Commission for Women as role model in executing wonderful jobs to protect thousand of women lives, the popular people first government should constitute State Human Rights Commission to look after the matter seriously and the culprits involved be punished as per norms. The State Human Rights Commission has been successfully constituted in many states including Assam and Sikkim. Let’s change individual mind and develop a novel strategy to implements various developmental schemes to improve education, health, rural road and electricity connectivity at the grass-root level to make Arunachal ever peaceful, lovely, and corruption-free state in the north-eastern region of India.

Yours

Nima D Namsa (on email)

Senior Research Fellow

Indian Institute of Science, (via e-mail)

Bangalore

The man I knew

Dear Editor,

The item on Mr. Miti Mepo, beaten to death by IRBn as published in your daily yesterday was heart breaking.

I have known Mr. Miti Mepo for many years as a sober, gentle, genuine, and a peace loving man. Such act by law keeper at the cost of peace loving civilian who was not armed is very unfortunate. It is high time for the authority concerned to wake up and pick up those rotten apples before it spoils the rest. Otherwise, the law protector itself could be the reason for giving root to civil unrest and anti-social element in the peace loving society which will not be in the interest of the state.

I offer my heartfelt condolences to the family and pray for the departed soul.

Yours

Dr. Mika Umpo,

Naharlagun

Declare dates

Dear Editor,

The Department of Higher and Technical Education is yet to declare counseling schedule for the Arunachal Pradesh Joint Entrance exams-PCM 2010 and we are yet to be informed about number of seats allotted. Many students lose a year preparing for the exams and even after so much of efforts, we are not even certain about getting a seat. It is therefore requested that total number of seats received from government of Indian be updated on the website and published in local dailies. I would also request the authorities to lets us know the branches of departments allotted and fix the date of counseling as early as possible.

Yours

Haj Tatang, Naharlagun

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----Editor