Naga bodies condemn the killing of Arunachal MLA Tirong Aboh

Imphal: Amidst reports that some Naga insurgent group is behind the massacre of 11 persons in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tirap district on Tuesday morning, several Naga bodies have come forward to condemn the brutal killing of Khonsa West MLA Tirong Aboh and his son, among others, in the incident.

The Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) and the Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA) on Wednesday issued statements condemning the killing in Arunachal Pradesh.

Sharing the pain with the grief-stricken families, the NMA said, “Words are inadequate to express our grief at this hour of sorrow for so many of the bereaved families, who have lost their loved ones. The Naga mothers share your grief and deep loss of the families and the people of Arunachal Pradesh and reiterate that violence and bloodshed can never be justified in any way.”

Aboh, the sitting MLA from Arunachal Pradesh’s Khonsa West assembly constituency, was shot dead by insurgents near Bogapani, a small village which falls under the Khonsa circle of Tirap district. Ten others, including the MLA’s son Longgem Aboh, were also killed in the ambush allegedly laid by an insurgent outfit active in the region.

Meanwhile, the NPMHR, too, said that regardless of “whatever his weaknesses or faults were, we equally condemn the killing of his son and the nine others who became victims of unforgivable acts of violence. May their soul rest in peace”.

The NPMHR, a pan-Naga human rights organisation, also asserted that the tragic incident happened in the midst of the military offensive by the Myanmarese army against the Nagas in the Naga villages of Hoyat, Throilu and Nyanching in the neighbouring country since May 16. The operation continues till now on, the statement said.

No matter how divided people are on issues confronting them or ideologies differ between individuals or leaders, the Naga bodies said that the act of killing or violence is never the option and is absolutely against the basic human rights.

Meanwhile, the bodies also condemned the military atrocities meted out towards the Nagas of Myanmar and urged the Union government of India and its neighbouring country to release the Naga leaders and innocent villagers detained by the Myanmarese and Indian armies.