Cry for CBI inquiry into Tawang firing, Aapsu ultimatum to govt

Itanagar: Opposition Congress and the All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union (Aapsu) have demanded a CBI probe into the police firing in Tawang on Monday that led to the death of two people and left many injured.
Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) sought inquiries into the incident either by a retired high court judge or by the CBI.
"APCC wonders how a peaceful protest ended with such genocide.Had the state government intervened at the right time, the incident could have been averted," PCC president Padi Richo said.
Taking a dig at chief minister Kalikho Pul over the incident, Richo added, "The much acclaimed messiah of the poor, whose arrival in the state was propagated as an overnight changer, seems to be a mute spectator in the issues that are confronting the state."
The All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union (Aapsu) on Tuesday served a seven-day ultimatum to the state government, seeking suspension of the Tawang deputy commissioner, superintendent of police, officer in-charge of police station and magistrate on duty during the Tawang firing.
Aapsu also took out a candlelight march in Itanagar on Wednesday as a mark of solidarity.
The state government has already ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident. Aapsu, however, said a magisterial inquiry would not do justice as it is a machinery of the state government and demanded an immediate CBI inquiry into the incident.
Aapsu president Kamta Lapung on Tuesday said a peaceful protest rally and agitation is part of the democratic movement according to Article 19 (1) in the Indian Constitution and to shoot at protesters is unacceptable.
"The state government should not only stick to its promise of releasing ex gratia for the victims' family but should also come up with an explanation. Unless there is an order from the state government, how can a DC, an SP or an OC order security personnel to fire at the protesters?" Lapung said.
"Aapsu is concerned about the loss of human lives. Everyone who has been to Tawang knows that people out there are peace-loving and religious in nature. We do not see any reason for the firing," Aapsu general secretary Biru Nasi said.
"KMSS condemns the manner in which Lama was falsely implicated to drown out the voice of anti-dam protests in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. The death of innocent people as a result of Lama's arrest is the game plan of the government and the hydro-power lobby to challenge resistance against mega dams in Arunachal Pradesh," said KMSS in a statement on Tuesday.
Aasu president Dipanka Kumar Nath, said, "Instead of trying to suppress the voice of protesters, the government should conduct a scientific study of all proposed dams in Arunachal Pradesh that can have an adverse impact on downstream areas in Assam as well as in the neighbouring states."
North East Students' Organization (Neso) coordinator, Pritam Bai Sonam questioned why police personnel did not use other means to disperse it like tear gas or even firing in the air.
The state unit of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) said the incident took place because of the failure of the district administration and police department of not being able to contain the situation.
National Students of Union of India (NSUI) termed the incident as one of police atrocity. Arunachal Pradesh Youth Congress (APYC) too demanded a CBI inquiry.