Political parties blame AR for Kiphire violence

The meeting held in C. Kipili Sangtam’s residence.

Political parties and leaders Tuesday expressed “strong resentment” against the assault of three youths by 7 Assam Rifles (AR) personnel which angered public and led to a confrontation with AR in Kiphire town on Sunday night.

This was stated in a press statement jointly issued by - NPF, Congress and BJP- after the coordination meeting held Tuesday in the residence of parliamentary secretary for power C. Kipili Sangtam.

The meeting also condemned the action of Captain Vinod who was accused of leading the jawans in “harassing” the public.

The meeting also unanimously resolved to restore peace in the town by defusing the tense situation.

The joint statement issued by NPF Kiphire district unit president R. Joshua Sangtam, DCC president Thritsali Sangtam and BJP unit vice president Tsukhumong, reminded that on April 19 a joint forum of the GBs and DBs had made an appeal to Captain Vinod over his conduct with public.

They also said that April 20, the DC Kiphire Kesonyu Yhome had convened a coordination meeting wherein he appealed to the AR authority to refrain from acts of “misbehaviour.”

They alleged that, despite assurances, Captain Vinod paid scant regard to the plea as the AR continued to harass people in Kiphire. The mounting incidents led to public anger which eventually led to clashes with the AR, they said.

The signatories while lamenting on the damage to properties and public causality, blamed Captain Vinod’s “inhuman behavior” that led to the flare up. They also demanded immediate punishment to Captain Vinod for his “irresponsible behavior”.

Expressing regrets over the arson on the DC’s residence and setting on fire of vehicles, the joint statement decided to extend possible help to the district administration.

They also reiterated that Sunday’s incident was not due to failure of the district administration but due to the highhandedness of the 7 AR personnel.

After the joint meeting, C. Kipili Sangtam also convened a meeting with the tribal hohos, NGOs and political parties.

The meeting condemned the AR personnel’s action. One AK 47 rifle which was seized from one AR jawan by the irate mob on Sunday, was handed over the AR in the presence of SDPO and OC Kiphire DEF Tuesday.

The political parties also expressed appreciation to C.Kipili Sangtam for his “timely intervention” by convening a series of meetings with the district administration, 7 AR, tribal hohos and NGOs of Kiphire for normalizing the situation.

Meanwhile, a representation submitted to DC Kiphire by eleven Ward Chairmen of Kiphire Town pointed out that despite Captain Vinod’s assurances not to harass public in response to their appeal, the Sunday incident proved otherwise.

They pointed out that on Saturday at around 6.30 p.m., 7 AR jawans under Captain Vinod inflicted torture on three youths- Tsalithri, Thsitongchum, Yangkyuchum and Rolise (at Police Point) and also seized their mobile phones. They blamed the sequence of incidents on Captain Vinod Bhuvan that led to injury on civilians and others besides causing colossal loss of public properties.

The 11 Ward Chairmen also issued a three-point charter of demands. These include- disciplinary action against Captain Vinod; immediate probe into the nature of injury and the status of treatment of the victims and medical compensation for the victims.