Source: The Sangai Express
Itanagar, December 27:
Hundreds of tribals from Doimukh demonstrated before the Arunachal Pradesh State secretariat here today to protest against army action at Boogli-Denka forest in which one person was allegedly killed and three others arrested.
In a memorandum to Governor SK Singh 'The Action Committee Against Army Killing at Boogli Denka' (ACAABD) demanded the immediate release of three villagers "detained illegally at Laluk jail in Assam".
The organisation claimed that four villagers from Doimukh went to hunt in the forest armed with guns, a common practice among tribals, on December 13 and were challenged by armymen, who mistook them for militants.
The armymen, who had crossed the Assam-Arunachal border then fired on the four, killing one.
The other three were arrested.
The ACAABD demanded compensation for the bereaved family and action against the armymen, 'responsible for the incident'.
According to Yowa Jyoti and Tana Tahin, chairman and secretary of ACCABD respectively, the incident occurred well within Arunachal territory where the Armed Forces Special Power Act was not applicable excepting in two districts of Tirap and Changlang adjoining Nagaland.
In this context, the organisation demanded repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act "under which the armymen crossed the border and challenged local tribals".
The All Nyishi Students Union, Arunachal Citizens Rights, an NGO, Nyishi Elite Society and village heads earlier took out a procession.
According to P Badi Additional DC of Papum Pare district officials from Doimukh rushed to Laluk police station in adjoining North Lakhimpur district of Assam where the body of the, person killed was taken along with the three arrested villagers by the army, which also filed a FIR against them.
The Laluk police registered a case of attempt to murder against the three villagers on the basis of the complaint by the army.
Badi said a team headed by Extra Assistant Commissioner of Doimukh visited the spot and submitted a report to Papum Pare district authorities saying the incident took place within Arunachal Pradesh territory.