Sensation continues at Denkabosti, Assam-Arunachal border area

Assam-Arunachal border dispute

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR, July 17: Realizing an imminent law-and-order situation, the citizens of Arunachal Pradesh on Tuesday were compelled to pull down a foundation stone laid by them on Assam land at Kachajuli under Lakhimpur district. The foundation stone of the Chief Minister’s Model Village, under a flagship scheme of the Arunachal government, was laid on Monday at Denkabosti, located along the Assam-Arunachal border area which falls in the boundary of Assam. Regarding the issue, sensation has prevailed in the area under the Harmutty Range Office of Lakhimpur Forest Division since Sunday as the citizens of the neighbouring State started their attempt to lay the foundation stone there from that day. Following the laying of the foundation stone by Arunachal citizens by encroaching the land belonging to Assam, a team of forest department, led by the Ranger of Harmutty Range and beat officer of Kachajuli Beat, remained vigilant in the disputed area on Tuesday. Finally the encroachers broke the foundation stone, giving up the aggressive attitude which they had been showing since Sunday.

Nabam Rebia, the Minister for Environment, Forest and Land Management Affairs, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, laid the foundation stone, thereby making a mockery of the very existence of the Lakhimpur district administration. More than hundred Arunachal citizens were present in the foundation-stone laying event. It is alleged that the DC of Papumpare district, Joram Beda instigated the citizens to encroach the land of Assam. Such consecutive attempts under the patronization of the Arunachal Pradesh Government have led to illegal encroachment by Arunachal citizens in the Assam-Arunachal border area under Dollung, Kakoi and Ranga Reserve Forests in Lakhimpur district. A few months ago, Lakhimpur district administration pulled down a tourism park set up by the Arunachal Pradesh government in Dollung Reserve Forest.