'Tibetan refugees enjoying double benefits'

Our Correspondent

Itanagar, April 18:  The All Tawang District Students’ Union (ATDSU) has submitted a memorandum to Tawang Deputy Commissioner seeking a check on Tibetan refugee settlers in the district claiming that the refugees are enjoying double benefits by acquiring Scheduled Tribe certificates as well as refugee cards. “Many individuals and families in Tawang district have Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribe (APST) certificates as well as refugee cards. They should surrender either of the categories. They cannot acquire both the benefits,” the memorandum stated. It claimed that such individuals enjoy the status of refugees abroad while their family members enjoy the APST status in Arunachal Pradesh. The union also pleaded with the administration to check the rampant encroachment on government land in the district. “Many government quarters are disappearing and private buildings are replacing the land meant for government quarters,” the memorandum said.

The union also expressed apprehension over “several Tibetan refugees operating in Arunachal Pradesh as Chinese spies.”

Claiming threat to national security, the union urged the State Government as well as New Delhi to conduct a census survey of the refugees.

“As guarding the border with neighbouring China is strategically important for our national security, we implore both the Central and the State Governments not to lend a deaf ear to our suggestions,” it said.