Itanagar, May 21: Sitting legislator in Arunachal Pradesh assembly, Tirong Aboh, is among the 7 people killed in a militant attack by insurgents in Tirap region. The deceased, an MLA of the National People's Party (NPP), was gunned down along with 6 family members at his residence. The attackers are suspected to be members of the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN).
Aboh's personal security officer (PSO) was also shot in the militant attack. He has been airlifted to a hospital in Itanagar, where his condition is stated to be critical. Here's What Exit Polls Have Predicted For Arunachal Pradesh & Other Northeast States
Update on Tirang Aboh's Killing:
#NewsAlert – 7 including NPP candidate Tirong Aboh killed in a militant attack in Tirap, Arunachal Pradesh. pic.twitter.com/uJ3QPQSGiP
— News18 (@CNNnews18) May 21, 2019
Authorities were unsure which faction of the NSCN launched the attack. The assault comes at fag end of the general elections 2019, which saw Arunachal voting for the two Lok Sabha and 60 assembly seats in first phase, on April 11. Results are scheduled to be declared on May 23.
Aboh, the incumbent MLA from Khonsa West, was fielded as candidate by the party again. The contest in the state is three-cornered, with the ruling BJP primarily being challenged by the Congress and the NPP.
"NPP is extremely shocked and saddened by the news of the death of its Arunachal MLA Tirong Aboh and his family. We condemn the brutal attack and urge HM Rajnath Singh and PM Modi to take action against those responsible for such attack," said NPP president and Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 21, 2019 03:30 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).