CCPUR, October 26: Commanding Officer of the 7 AR, Col.Aditya Verma, paid a visit to the family whose house was hit by a bullet fired in celebration during Puja festival on October 19. A 5mm bullet had pierced the corrugated steel roofing of the house.
The CO, had also already visited and apologised to the family last week in the presence of ADCC Chairman Mr.Langkhanpau Guite, the areas MDC Mr.T.Khaikhanmang and Mr. CT Lian Guite MDC present.
He had said then he regretted the unfortunate incident and further admitted that the soldiers should in future tell people in advance about such firings. He said he was even more worried because of the present tense situation in Lamka where people are still mourning the deaths of nine peoples.
Today`s visit was the second by the CO to show the ARis concerned for the wellbeing of the general public after the stray bullet allegedly fired by his soldiers pierced the steel roof of the house. The projectile then fell on the floor of the house after rebounding from the steel almirah in the bedroom of Khumkhenmang.
During today`s visit, the CO also called on the concerned MDC and chief of the village and promise that he personally will take care of the poor family, and will gift them with rationed steel roofing material as replacement for the damaged material.
He said the motto of his force is that they are `the friends of Ccpur. People” and reiterated that his force is not afraid to say sorry when they have made mistakes and are ready to make corrections.
On condition of anonymity, some people of the village told IFP that it seems like a genuine, non-targeted firing by uniform security forces during their an annual rituals celebration of Puja.
They said nonetheless the Army as well as the police have been maintaining extreme restraints in Ccpur. in recent days and their overall performances were laudable. However, such celebratory firings must be announced ahead of time so people are cautious.
Such mistakes can cause misunderstandings between the forces and the people, and must not happen again, they added.
Recall may also be made that such celebration firing is common practice among security forces since many decades.
The victim who is a carpenter by profession lives with his wife, two school going daughters and an infant son. They had all rushed to the nearby concrete building in panic on that fateful night.
Surprisingly, on being asked, some of the immediate neighbours said they did not hear any kind of gunshot and that it was the tension of the a war-like situation in Ccpur that startled them and made them flee in panic.