Death fuels mob unrest

telegraphindia.com

Dibrugarh/Itanagar, Aug. 3:

The death of a civilian in an alleged assault by some India Reserve Battalion (IRB) jawans last night at Roing in Lower Dibang Valley district, has sparked unrest in the area.

J. Molo, officer in-charge of Roing police station, today said some IRB jawans in plain clothes, beat up Miti Mepo, 50, after a verbal duel around 8.30pm near the IRB barracks on the outskirts of Roing town.

Mepo, who sustained injuries in his head and chest, collapsed on the ground. He was pronounced dead at the district hospital in Roing at 9.30pm.

“Mepo was severely beaten up by IRB jawans after a verbal altercation with them in the Bomb Godown area near the IRB barracks last evening. We are yet to ascertain the reason of the verbal feud. The jawans beat him up with sticks, following which Mepo collapsed. He was rushed to hospital where he was declared dead,” Molo informed over phone from Roing.

Angered by the alleged inhuman behaviour of the jawans, hundreds of people in Roing town today attacked the deputy commissioner’s office and caused largescale destruction.

Roing MLA Lata Umbre, in a damage-control exercise today, tried to convene a meeting to restore normality in the area after the incident sparked unrest.

“But the MLA’s attempt failed as no one in the crowd listened to him. They simply went to the DC’s office premises and ransacked everything,” a local source said.

The mob, armed with sharp weapons and sticks, damaged the DC’s and additional DC’s office chambers and set them on fire, the source added. They also burnt tyres on the streets to vent their anger against the administration and police.

Lower Dibang Valley deputy commissioner Y.W. Ringu said over phone that the situation is tense but under control.

“We are closely monitoring the situation and will once again try to convene a meeting late this evening or tomorrow morning to bring back normality,” the DC added.

Lower Dibang Valley superintendent of police T. Karga said the services of the CRPF had been requisitioned.

Karga, whose vehicle was burnt down by the mob late last night, however, declined to comment on the number of people being arrested in connection with yesterday’s incident and today’s violence.

“Some people have been rounded up. We cannot give you any further details over phone,” he added.

The situation turned volatile last night as relatives of the victim and residents of Roing, armed with machetes and firearms, tried to attack the IRB barracks, prompting the jawans to resort to blank fire.

The protesters later threw stones for at least 15 minutes at the jawans, who resorted to lathicharge to disperse them.

Superintendent of police of Lower Dibang valley T. Karga and magistrate Rakesh Tacho had rushed to the spot.

A mob also ransacked the Roing police station this afternoon, before attempt- ing to set the police station ablaze.

However, police resorted to blank fire in a bid to restore normality.

Director-general of police Kanwaljit Deol had to rush to Roing from Itanagar to control the situation.

A source said activists of the All Idu Mishmi Students Union also blocked roads and demanded rigorous punishment to the culprits.

None of the officials at the 2nd IRB camp at Roing were available for comment.

Protesters also staged an agitation in front of the battalion’s camp today.

Barely a fortnight ago, T. Moshu, a conductor with the state transport department, died after he was allegedly assaulted by IRB jawans at Naharlagun.

Informations

The Lower Dibang Valley district is an administrative district in the state of Arunachal Pradesh in northeastern India. It was carved out of the Dibang Valley district. The district headquarters of the district is Roing. Before it was carved out in December 16, 2001, Anini was the district headquarter.

~ par Alain Bertho sur 4 août 2010.

Publié dans दंगा, émeutes, riots