Kaka D. Iralu
With reference to the shooting incident on Oct 23, 2016 in the Okotso area, I wish to give the following rejoinder to the Assam Rifles denial of occupying the Church and its guest house at Mekokla village and deriding our protests as “A blatant lie.”
1. Whether it was a joint operation or not we do not know, but the facts are very clear that on the night of 22nd October 2016, there were two Assam Rifles (A.R.) operations in the Okotso area of the Lotha region. One of these two parties arrived at Okotso village and slept in the village Community Hall. The other party came and occupied the Church at Mekokla village. We can also believe that some of the troops who stayed at Okotso village were Christians and did not desecrate the Church premises of Okotso village. We are not protesting against this A.R. group who bivouacked at the Okotso Village because they were doing their own duties which we cannot object to.
2. Our protest is however with the A.R. group who entered and occupied the Church premises at Mekokla Baptist Church on the same night of October 22, 2016 and even said all those arrogant words to the Pastor of the Church when he protested. As for this incident, the Lotha Baptist Church Council had made an on the spot verification before the protest was registered in the local papers.
