On May 21, 11 people including the National People’s Party (NPP) Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA), Tirong Aboh and his son were killed in an ambush at 12th mile in Khonsa-Deomali road in Tirap District in Arunachal Pradesh, reports Arunachal 24. The fatalities include two Personal Security Officers (PSO’s) and MLA’s son. Two, including one PSO have been wounded in the attack.
Indian Expressreports National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) militants are suspected to be behind the attack. The ambush occurred when the convoy of MLA was returning from Dibrugarh in Assam to Khonsa in Tirap District. The MLA was seeking re-election in the State Assembly election and was vocal against NSCN-IM targeting political workers in the area in his election campaign. He had also spoken against violence had had stated in a gathering that ‘Politicians who do not have the guts to fight elections on their own merit should not use underground elements’.
Director General of Police (DGP) SBK Singh, stated that “of the 15 people in the convoy 11 were killed on the spot, two have been admitted to hospital with serious injuries and two others including a woman escaped unhurt”, reports The Shillong Times. The DGP also stated that Army Units have started a massive combing operation. He also added that senior Police officers of Tirap and Changlang Districts have reached Khonsa to supervise and coordinate with security agencies for operations.
The Times of Indiaadds that an un-named Police official stated that “Aboh’s convoy was waylaid between Deomali and Bogapani and they shot him, his teenage son, Longgem, two bodyguards and seven others.” According to security sources, “Aboh was known as a no-nonsense politician and often received threats from the NSCN (I-M) for his opposition to their presence in Arunachal.” Sources also added, “There were reports that NSCN(I-M) had warned Aboh not to contest the assembly election”.
NPP leader Kumar Waii stated, “This is the first political assassination to have taken place in Arunachal. We want an investigation into this by the government”, reports The Times of India. The site of the attack is an area under the command of the Army’s 3rd Corps, based in Dimapur, Nagaland.
Economic Timesfurther adds that a Senior Police official stated “the MLA was on his way to his constituency from Assam when militants open fired at his vehicle near Bogapani village in Tirap District around 11.30 am. We suspect the hand of NSCN-IM behind the incident.” Arunachal Pradesh Government in an official communique stated that “As per police report, 11 persons including the sitting MLA Khonsa West Tirong Aboh were ambushed and killed at 12th mile, 20 km in between Khonsa and Deomali road, by armed militants.”
The Sangai Expressfurther adds that NSCN-IM had allegedly threatened the MLA for campaigning for NPP. Meghalaya Chief Minister and NPP president Conrad K Sangma has strongly condemned the incident.
Nagaland Postadds that Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh stated that the perpetrators will not be spared.
Meanwhile Indian Express reports that, NSCN-IM ‘convenor’ of Cease Fire Monitoring Cell Karibo Chawang stated, “We have initiated our own investigations into the incident. We have informed all our headquarters and are collecting information to ascertain what happened exactly”.