Man accused for shooting Journalist surrenders in court

The prime accused in the shooting incident of a lady journalist in Itanagar last year, surrendered before judicial magistrate at Yupia, on Thursday.

Yumlang Achung, the mastermind behind the assassination attempt on Journalist Tongam Rina, surrendered before magistrate and was remanded to seven days judicial custody, Papum Pare SP Nabam Gungte said.

Rina, the Associated Editor of 'The Arunachal Times', the first English newspaper of the state, was critically injured on July 15 last year when assailants shot at her while she was entering her office.

Achung was evading arrest since then, police on July 10 last charge sheeted three other accused - Ajit Pegu, Raju Gurung and Gamke Veo- who were also involved in the incident.

While Ajit Pegu hails from Pathali Pahar in neighbouring North Lakhimpur district, Raju Gurung stays at Naharlagun near hear and Gamke Veo hails from Chayang Tajo in East Kameng district.

Three automatic weapons including the weapon used in shootout have been recovered.

Forensic examination of the weapons had confirmed its use in commissioning of the crime, the SP said.

"The motive of the crime was that accused Yumlang Achung wanted to harm Rina for not highlighting him and his organisations activities in her newspaper. He and his supporters had ransacked the newspaper office on several occasions prior to this incident," Gungte said.

The investigation of the case has been completed and prima facie case well established against accused Yumlang Achung and his three accomplices, he added.