Shillong, Sep 22: The Garoland State Movement Committee (GSMC), Pedaldoba Regional Unit has strongly condemned the assault on two-time National Award-winning filmmaker Dominic Sangma near Jollang-Rakap road in Itanagar on September 16.
Sangma, Head of Screenwriting at FTII Jote, Itanagar and director of Ma.Ama and Rapture, was attacked while intervening to rescue students of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Itanagar, allegedly being harassed by two intoxicated persons armed with bamboo sticks.
As per the FIR at Balijan PS under BNS Sections 115(2), 117(2), 126(2), 351(2), Sangma was returning from an evening walk around 6:30 pm when he saw two miscreants heckling students. When he intervened, the duo attacked him, four students and a security guard, inflicting injuries.
Arunachal Police arrested two accused — Techi Nanu and Techi Sanjay of Rakap village — on September 18.
In a statement, GSMC Chairman Rimjen Ch Sangma termed it a “frontal assault on Garo honour, Northeast pride and the sanctum of art and academia” and said it would tarnish FTII Itanagar, India’s third national film school.
The committee demanded exemplary deterrent punishment for the perpetrators, ironclad security with CISF/Police outpost at FTII Jote campus and Jollang-Rakap road, government to bear medical expenses and written guarantee of safety for faculty and students, and installation of CCTV, high-mast lights and regular patrolling.
It expressed solidarity with FTII students who have suspended classes indefinitely from September 17 and wished Sangma speedy recovery.
