Risso Tari's brother
Risso Kiagung, brother of late Risso Tari, one of the Arunachal firing victims, addressing the media on Monday. Image - Northeast Now

The family members of Risso Tari, one of the three killed in the recent anti-Permanent Resident Certificate (PRC) agitation, on Tuesday cautioned chief minister Pema Khandu-led BJP government in Arunachal Pradesh to stay away from politicising the deaths of the youths and instead look into fulfilling the demands of the families.

“I appeal to the BJP government to stop playing politics with by brother’s blood. I would also like to make it clear that the movement that we have launched against the government is not politically motivated as alleged by some of its leaders. We are fighting for justice and we want that to be delivered to us at the earliest,” Risso Kiagung, the brother of late Tari, said.

Kiagung, who was addressing a news conference at the Press Club here, informed that they have submitted a memorandum to Arunachal Pradesh governor B. D. Mishra demanding that the culprit(s) behind the murder of Tari be arrested at the earliest and handed over to them.

Also read: Not ex gratia, hand over the killer: Arunachal firing victim’s family

“Even if the law of land does not allow us to punish the ‘murderer’, we want the government to at least identify the culprit or show his face. This will give immense relief to us,” Kiagung said adding that despite their ultimatum the government has turned deaf to their demands and even failed to meet the aggrieved families.

It was informed that, declaration of all the three killed in the agitation as martyrs of anti-PRC movement, renaming the land near Indira Gandhi Park where Tari’s body has been buried as Martyrs’ Ground, erection of statues of the trio to symbolise their sacrifice and declaration of February 22 every year as state holiday were the other demands put in front of the governor by Tari’s family and the Risso Welfare Society.

They later also demanded that the Capital Complex deputy commissioner and superintendent of police be suspended for their failure to contain law and order and deputy superintendent of police Make Bui be terminated from his services for creating a “fabricated incident report” on Tari’s death.

As per the family members, the incident report made by DSP Bui was made with intent to remove or hide evidence and truth behind Tari’s killing.

“The incident report says that some persons came in an ambulance and dropped the lifeless body of Tari near the civil secretariat gate at around 1.30 am (February 23) and was later taken to the hospital. However, my brother was killed at around 11.30 pm (February 22),” said Kiagung while adding that he can produce the people who were with Tari when he was killed before the authority concerned, if needed.

Moreover, if the government and administration were not guilty, this report would have never existed, he said.

Kiagung also cautioned that the government should not underestimate the power of the public which has assured to stand by the families when and wherever required.

We don’t believe in calling bandhs and agitations, however, we will also not dissuade from out demands, the family said.

“We don’t want a penny from the government; give us justice and we will go home peacefully,” Kiagung said.

Risso Tari, 22, was allegedly shot dead by security forces on February 22 while Biki Ruja, 20, and Tsering Wangdi, 32, died during the protests near chief minister Pema Khandu’s bungalow on February 24.

The families of the trio have already denied accepting the ex gratia amount of Rs 20 lakh each and government job to one of the family members as announced by the government.

Damien Lepcha is Northeast Now Correspondent in Arunachal Pradesh. He can be reached at: [email protected]