The Arunachal Pradesh state unit of the Janata Dal (United) organized a candlelight march in Itanagar in protest against the killing of 14 civilians by security forces in Mon district of Nagaland.
The candlelight march procession paid respect and demanded justice for the victims of the December 4-5 incident at Oting village in Mon district of Nagaland.
Senior JD(U) leaders including its state president Ruhi Tagung, Itanagar MLA Techi Kaso and Kamle Zilla Parishad chairperson Nido Shanti along with party workers took part in the rally from Legi Complex, Bank Tinali to the IG Park Tennis Court in Itanagar to pay respects to the slain civilians.
Later, addressing the gathering, JD(U) Arunachal president while condemning the Nagaland killings highlighted the Northeast people’s sufferings due to the contentious Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and how the act was repealed in Punjab and Meghalaya after the respective state governments asked to put an end to it.
In Arunachal Pradesh, the act is in force in Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts and areas bordering Assam, he said.
Tagung said his party condemns what happened in Nagaland. “Innocent civilians shouldn’t be harmed because of this act. This is wrong and we hope that this is not repeated in future,” he said.
He further appealed to the government in the state and at the Centre to implement this law only where it is needed. “Implement it only where it is needed otherwise it is better to withdraw it,” he pointed out.
