The Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) has slammed the State Government’s “stoic silence” on the Indian Air Force’s routine practice of bombarding in Dollungmukh area under Kamle district, in which many lives have been affected.
“In 1992, Dollungmukh resident Bini Tabom had succumbed to his injuries after a bombing drill by the IAF, but his family has not received any compensation from the Central and State Governments as well as IAF till date,” APCC vice president Minkir Lollen said on Friday.
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The IAF practice and drill area is taking place covering 11 villages under Dollungmukh Circle. Due to that, the local people are unable to move freely for their day-to-day work and needs, and also cannot go for cultivating their fields. It is a vulnerable situation in every walk of life for the people of Dollungmukh area, he said.
“On June 8, retired SSB jawan Bini Todum suffered multiple fractures after being hit by shrapnel of a bomb. He is now undergoing treatment at TRIHMS, Naharlagun after referral from NHPC dispensary at Gerukamukh. Despite that, it is very astonishing that the State Government has remained silent about the matter till date,” Lollen said.
The APCC asked the State Government to take up the issue with the Centre, particularly the Ministry of Defence for compensation to Tabom, who died in 1992, and to Todum who is undergoing treatment now.
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“The people of the area are living in fear and agitating for shifting of IAF practice site. The Government much act before anything serious happens,” Lollen said.
The Congress on Thursday also charged the BJP-led Central and State Governments with hatching a conspiracy to pave the way for a “huge scam in land compensation” for construction of roads worth Rs 238 crore.
These roads include Potin (Lower Subansiri district) to Bopi (Kamle) Trans Arunachal Highway (TAH) amounting to Rs 198 crore, and Joram (Lower Subansiri) to Koloriang (Kurung Kumey) amounting to Rs 40 crore.
They were sanctioned and awarded as part of former Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh’s package during 2011-12, the APCC said while criticising the present State Government for utter failure to provide compensation to the people who own the land and property.
The APCC also condemned the “intentional and tacit understanding of State administration, the Centre and district administration” for large-scale benefit to a few people bypassing the genuineness of villagers, landowners and farmers.
The scam amounting to Rs 238 crore as a result includes private forest payment of Rs 10 crore, the APCC said, questioning the Narendra Modi and Pema Khandu Government’s claim of providing corruption-free governance.
The APCC said it has learnt that the Chief Secretary has ordered a fact finding committee to unearth the genuineness of various beneficiaries. It has warned the Government of agitation unless the scam is established and guilty officers and beneficiaries punished.
“The fact finding committee should have time-bound action and report submitted to the authorities be made public,” the APCC said, urging the people and victims of such benefits for having spared land and property for construction of Trans Arunachal Highway to come out and fight for justice.
The APCC also reminded the ineffectiveness of CBI in land compensation cases (Bhalukpong to Tawang double laning scheme via Bomdila-Dirang) handed over to it in 2012-12.
“The BJP Government in the State is resorting to delay tactics in the investigation of CBI,” the APCC said.
APCC president Takam Sanjoy, meanwhile, has constituted an assessment committee which will be led by APCC general secretary Tamchi Tahar, to inquire into the truth behind the scam and also supplement any investigation team.