Arunachal violence: Alobo Naga & band escape unharmed; instruments, vehicle burnt

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TNT Y | Feb 23, 2019:

Flames shot high into the air and the smoke billowed as a mob burned down almost everything at the venue at I.G Park, Cona where the Itanagar International Film Festival was scheduled to take place for three days beginning Friday, 22nd of February 2019.

The festival was also scheduled to play host to the likes of Alobo Naga and the Band from Nagaland and SKD band from Assam.

In a Facebook status Pop/Rock Singer- Songwriter Alobo Naga has claimed that he and his band were caught in the middle of a firing right after their Soundcheck because of which they had to take shelter inside the house of a local resident.

Soon after, when it seemed like the ruckus was over- they walked over to the parking lot to find that the car they had driven to Arunachal Pradesh was burned to ashes, destroying with it everything that was kept inside including all their gear and instruments.

Early in the morning on 23rd February 2019, Alobo Naga again posted on his personal profile:

"Let me update Incase we don't get internet later.

The mob burned down our car (Innova) including all ourinstruments along with all the other vehicles parked inside the venue (IG park).The stage, sound system, portable movie theatre, trucks, gen set etc. all downthe ashes.

We are holed up inside the hotel PYBSS, which is nearthe secretariat. All the firing is  happening just outside our hotel.

Keep us in prayers"

Let me update Incase we don't get internet later.The mob burned down our car (Innova) including all our instruments…

Alobo Naga ಅವರಿಂದ ಈ ದಿನದಂದು ಪೋಸ್ಟ್ ಮಾಡಲಾಗಿದೆ  ಶುಕ್ರವಾರ, ಫೆಬ್ರವರಿ 22, 2019

Later in the afternoon on the same day, Alobo Naga posted pictures of the massacre and shared:

"Just avoided mob attack in 2 places to reach Naharlagun train station. Trying to sneak out of Arunachal, continue to pray for us. Situation looks bad, curfew is on! Internet is blocked for 24 hours, using railway WiFi"

Thank you all for your prayers and wishes! We are safe. Just avoided mob attack in 2 places to reach Naharlagun train…

Alobo Naga ಅವರಿಂದ ಈ ದಿನದಂದು ಪೋಸ್ಟ್ ಮಾಡಲಾಗಿದೆ  ಶನಿವಾರ, ಫೆಬ್ರವರಿ 23, 2019

Alobo Naga and the Band manager Narottam Kar shared with TNT-The Northeast Today that the band was being brought to safety by their fans and some of them were members of the All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union.

He laments the band's experience of having to watch their vehicle and instruments burn all the way to its skeletal metal frame.

"Dozens of instruments were charred, burnt, melted including their recording equipment like Soundcards and laptops" Kar added.

The situation in Arunachal Pradesh is escalating with the death of one person in the police firing on Friday night when protesters seeking changes in the recommendations by a government-appointed panel for granting permanent residence certificate (PRC) to non Arunachalees tried to enter the Civil Secretariat here, officials said on Saturday.