BORDER ISSUES WITH ARUNACHAL: AASU urges Dispur not to cede Assam land

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The AASU (All Assam Students' Union) welcomed the move taken by the State Government to resolve boundary disputes with the neighbouring states, including Arunachal Pradesh. The students' body, however, urged the State Government not to cede any land of the State to Arunachal Pradesh.

The All Lakhimpur District Students' Union (ALDSU) also specifically urged Dispur not to cede any land of the Lakhimpur district to Arunachal Pradesh. It submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to this effect. ALDSU leaders also met Minister Keshab Mahanta, one of the chairmen of a regional committee, and told him not to give any Lakhimpur land to Arunachal Pradesh.

Talking to The Sentinel, AASU president Dipanka Kumar Nath said, "We welcome the State Government's move to solve the boundary disputes with the neighbouring states, including Arunachal Pradesh. We, however, urge the State Government not to cede any Assam land to Arunachal Pradesh as the population of Assam is the highest in the region."

Talking to The Sentinel, AASU's organizing secretary and ALDSU's representative to the AASU, Pulak Borah, said, "We have information that Arunachal Pradesh is claiming vast areas of land from Assam's territory. The entire Lalkhimpur district shares its border with Arunachal Pradesh. In the past few decades, people from Arunachal Pradesh encroached upon Assam land, but the Lakhimpur District Administer opted to look the other way. In the past 15 years, only one Lakhimpur DC took steps to free the Assam land from Arunachalees. The fringe dwellers of Arunachal Pradesh get patronization from their government and police forces. On the contrary, the fringe dwellers of Assam get no patronization from the district administration or the police. Thus, in the event of boundary skirmishes, they have no way out but to retreat."

Pulak Borah said, "Some eight/nine years ago, entire Bandardewa was in Assam territory. On the left side of the National Highway (going from Guwahati), the Arunachal authorities started issuing trade licences, besides giving power connections. Now we came to know that the neighbouring state claims the entire Bandardewa. The Dulung Reserve Forest in the Lakhimpur district has the thickest 'Sia Nahar' trees in Asia. Arunachal Pradesh is claiming most of the forest areas. We urge the State Government not to cede any land of Lakhimpur to the neighbouring state."

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