Border residents of Arunachal 'first line of strength': CM

Itanagar, Aug 11 (PTI) Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Tuesday said border residents were the “first line of strength” and underlined that their security, welfare and development must remain a priority, with better infrastructure and connectivity needed in the frontier areas.

Khandu made the remarks after meeting representatives of the Mra Welfare Society of Upper Subansiri district and discussing their concerns, development requirements and priorities, particularly the need to strengthen border infrastructure and connectivity.

“Our border communities are our first line of strength. Their security, welfare and development must come first,” Khandu said in a social media post.

The chief minister’s remarks assume significance as concerns

over security and infrastructure in the remote Taksing sector of Upper Subansiri have resurfaced following allegations of fresh incursions by Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) personnel near the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Nah Welfare Society (NWS), a local body, has claimed that Chinese troops had expanded their presence in the Taksing area, located in the remote Upper Subansiri district along the India-China frontier.

Khandu had on August 7 said the state government would verify the allegations with the Indian Army and locals before drawing any conclusion.

“I have invited the members of the Nah Welfare Society and will personally verify the matter. I will also speak to the Indian Army and verify the same,” he had told reporters on the sidelines of an event.

The chief minister had also expressed confidence in the Army’s deployment along the frontier, saying the force was effectively carrying out its responsibility of guarding the country’s borders. He had maintained that the government would ascertain the facts before making any further assessment.

The latest allegations followed claims by the NWS that PLA personnel had moved towards areas near Yaja and Togo villages in the Taksing circle.

The organisation alleged that Chinese troops had advanced towards Pukar La and Ollo, areas located close to the two villages, and had moved to within around 15-16 km of the settlements through the Ollo stream.

The NWS had also alleged that Indian Army deployment in the sector had increased over the last one month and claimed that Indian and Chinese troops had come into contact in the area.

However, the Indian Army has previously rejected allegations of fresh Chinese encroachment in the region, saying such reports were “incorrect and without any basis”.

The controversy first surfaced in June when the NWS submitted a representation to the Upper Subansiri district administration alleging that the PLA had expanded its presence in several strategically important areas around Taksing, including Oying in the Asaphila region, Paniar, Marpan, Potrang and Tindingtang.

The organisation alleged that roads, bridges and military camps had been established in areas that local communities traditionally used for hunting, grazing and collecting forest produce.

The Army subsequently rejected those claims, while the state government urged people not to circulate unverified information and maintained that security agencies were closely monitoring developments along the frontier.

The issue, however, continued to draw attention, with the People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA) releasing on Monday the findings of a four-member fact-finding committee that described alleged PLA intrusions in the Taksing area as “inexplicable yet irrefutable”.

The chief minister’s meeting with the Mra Welfare Society representatives focused on their concerns and development priorities, with particular emphasis on improving connectivity and strengthening infrastructure in the border areas of Upper Subansiri, officials said. PTI UPL UPL ACD