Arunachal bids tearful adieu to slain Khonsa West MLA Tirong Aboh

Itanagar: Hundreds of people from all walks of life on Friday bid a tearful farewell to slain MLA Tirong Aboh, his son and nine others, as their mortal remains were laid to rest with full state honours in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tirap district.

While the bodies of Aboh, his son and seven others were buried together after the completion of traditional rites at Dadam village, those of Patwang Sumpa and B Siksa, the late MLA’s personal security officers, were buried at Upper Kolam village.

A ceremonial gun salute was accorded by the Arunachal Pradesh Police and honours to the departed souls were also extended by the district administration officials.

Tirap deputy commissioner PN Thungon, who led the last rites, also laid a wreath on the mortal remains of Late Aboh on behalf of governor Brig (Retd) BD Mishra.

The state government, meanwhile, observed a day-long state mourning on Friday as a mark of respect to the departed souls.

Aboh, along with 10 others was killed by suspected militants in an ambush at the 12 mile area in Tirap district on May 21. The legislator was on his way to Khonsa, the district headquarters of Tirap from Dibrugarh, Assam, on the fateful day when suspected militants opened fire on his convoy (comprising four vehicles). Also among the dead were two police personnel.

Following the incident, a massive counter-insurgency operation has been launched by the security forces in the jungles of Tirap, Longding and Changlang districts.

Also Read: WATCH: Pall of gloom descends on slain Arunachal MLA’s village

Speaking to this reporter, state’s Inspector General of Police (Law and Order), Sunil Garg said that “the security forces and police have so far not been able to make any arrests in the case; however, the operation is still in full swing”.

Garg also informed that though officials of the National Investigating Agency have reached Arunachal and are taking stock of the operation and case, it has not officially taken over the case.

Aboh had contested this year’s assembly elections as a National People’s Party candidate and also retained the Khona West assembly constituency. He defeated his lone rival, Phawang Lowang of the BJP by 1,055 votes as per results declared by the Election Commission of India on Thursday.

Aboh was elected from the constituency in 2014 on the People’s Party of Arunachal ticket and had later joined the Congress during former chief minister Nabam Tuki’s reign. He was then inducted as cabinet minister and held the civil supplies and department of Tirap, Changlang and Longding portfolios for a period of around four months.