ITANAGAR, Dec 14: Taking strong exception to the repeated violation of the status quo along the foothill areas of the Arunachal Pradesh-Assam boundary by Assam authorities, the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) has demanded that the state government conduct a high-level inquiry to ascertain the facts leading to the illegal demolition of under-construction tourist lodges in Dollungmukh in Lower Subansiri district on 8 December.
Expressing resentment over the lack of any strong response or counter measures from the Arunachal Pradesh government to prevent illegal evictions by the neighbouring state in the boundary areas, the AAPSU on Thursday also demanded stringent action against the officials, including those of the Indian Air Force, involved in carrying out the eviction drive in Dollungmukh.
The union also urged the state government to file a contempt-of-court petition against the Assam government for repeatedly violating the directives of the Supreme Court to maintain the status quo.
The union also made other demands, including ‘publishing and implementing’ the SC-constituted three-member Local Boundary Commission’s recommendation; asking the IAF to shift its bombing range from Dollungmukh ‘to a place far from human settlement’; bifurcating Dollungmukh area from the Dullung forest division under the Assam government; and revamping the Border Affairs Department by delegating full power and functions, along with adequate manpower, to the department.
‘The present demarcation of the interstate boundary illegally includes six villages of Dollungmukh circle under the Dollung reserve forest of the North Lakhimpur forest division, on the basis of the report of the Gopinath Bordoloi Commission 1951,’ the union said, adding that Arunachal Pradesh rejects the one-man commission’s report.
The union meanwhile rebuked the People’s Party of Arunachal for ‘trying to politicize the sensitive interstate boundary issue without taking into consideration the future ramifications their statement can lead to.’
It also raised concern over the repeated boundary problems created by the Assam government in other areas, such as Kangku-Rusa and Tarasso.
