ITANAGAR, Mar 13:Home Minister Kumar Waii today told the assembly that the state government has paid compensation to the people killed and injured in a police firing at Tawang on May 2, 2016.At least two persons had died and eight others were injured when police opened fire on people protesting against the arrest of a Buddhist monk at Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh on that day.Lama Lobsang Gyatso, a Buddhist monk and the general secretary of Save Mon Region Federation, which has been opposing mega dam projects in Tawang and West Kameng districts, was taken into police custody on April 26 that year after an audio clip surfaced where he allegedly said that Guru Tulku Rinpoche, the abbot of the famous Tawang Monastery, should distance himself from hydropower issues in the districts.Gyatso was released that evening but rearrested two days later after an FIR was lodged against him at Tawang police station following a meeting of panchayat leaders of the district. Hundreds of his followers, many of them monks and nuns, assembled outside the police station on May 2 that year to protest against his rearrest. As the situation rapidly escalated police opened fire killing at least two people. Responding to a question raised during question hour by BJP MLA Pani Taram, Waii informed that the case was transferred to the special investigating team (SIT) of the crime branch of state police.

It is under investigation. Replying to a supplementary, the home minister said that on the recommendation of the additional deputy commissioner of Jung, who had submitted the inquiry report on the incident, the state government had transferred Tawang deputy commissioner and suspended the superintendent of police."Moreover, seven police personnel in the rank of sub inspector and constables were put under suspension and departmental inquiry has been initiated against them," the minister added.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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