Yet again, Assam is creating unnecessary hurdles in the development activities being undertaken inside Arunachal’s territory at Hime village in Kangku circle of Lower Siang district. A PMGSY road project has become the target of the Assam Police and the people of the villages near Hime. A team of the Assam Police just a day before Republic Day stopped the work and entered into a confrontation with the locals. It was followed by a mob of Assam’s villagers coming inside Arunachal’s territory and burning down the labour camp. Earlier, Assam officials had created a hurdle in the construction of roads in Kimin and Tarasso in Papum Pare district.
This kind of repeated interference inside Arunachal’s territory is uncalled for. At a time when chief ministers of both Assam and Arunachal are publicly making effort to try to resolve the longstanding boundary row through mutual agreement, the Assam officials should act responsibly. Their provocative action can harm the process. The road projects are taken up for the benefit of the people. If the road is constructed, it is going to benefit everyone, including the people of Assam living on the other side of the boundary. Instead of creating hurdles, Assam should support these road projects. The situation in Hime village continues to be tense. The state government should immediately deploy sufficient police force and send a senior official to resolve the issue.