Deomali tense, combing operation launch to nab assailants

Itanagar, Dec 24 (UNI) Army and para military forces have launched a massive manhunt at Deomali under Arunachal's Tirap district, even as tension gripped the area following yesterday's assassination of former Lok Sabha MP Wangcha Rajkumar by unidentified militants. Unidentified gunman shot dead the MP at around 1930 hours last night, while he was playing badminton at Deomali community hall.

Late Rajkumar received 17 assault rifle bullets in his body, while Mr Lamham Kamlong, a clerk of Tirap Degree College sustained bullet injuries in his leg and was later shifted to Assam Medical College Hospital at Dibrugarh. According to sources, army and para military forces have launched massive combing operations in the area since yesterday to ascertain the whereabouts of the militant and to nab him. So far no militant outfits active in the district have claimed the responsibility for the assassination, sources added. Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu along with few of his cabinet colleagues' air dashed to Deomali this morning to take stock of the prevailing situation.

Unconfirmed reports revealed that late Rajkumar was under threat from an insurgent group active in the district since many months and the police was aware of it. Rajkumar (41), who was the advisor to state chief minister, represented Arunachal Pradesh East Parliamentary constituency in the 11th (1996), 12th (1998) and 13th (1999) Lok Sabha. A native of Deomali, he was elected to the state assembly in 1995 before being elected to Lok Sabha. A condolence meeting attended by various ministers, MLAs and party workers was organized at Congress Bhawan this morning to pay homage to the departed soul.

Expressing shock, Lok Sabha MP Tapir Gao condemned the ghastly killing and conveyed his deep sense of condolence to the bereaved family. Former chief minister Gegong Apang while condemning the incident demanded immediate CBI enquiry into the incident. Meanwhile, Nyishi Federal Council (NFC) has demanded immediate resignation of Home Minister Jarbom Gamlin for his failure in providing security to the VIPs as well as common people. The organization also cautioned the anti-social elements from other states operating in the state to refrain from such activities in the future.

UNI