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State | Arunachal Pradesh

Abduction heat burns states Sabyasachi Bhattachrjee The lid has come off the can and the worms are stinking! After a lull, insurgency is rearing its ugly head again in trouble-torn districts of Tirap and Changlang in Arunachal Pradesh. Acting promptly, the Dorjee Khandu led Congress government in state has moved the Centre, which in turn drew the attention of the Myanmarese government for ensuring safe return of the ‘abducted youths’. Arunachal Pradesh has been hit by the recent “abduction drama” involving the reported abduction of 39 boys from Tirap district, bordering Myanmar, by the NSCN(K). The incident has sparked widespread protests across the state including that from some student unions led by the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU), the apex students’ body of the state. The Governor, Gen (Retd) JJ Singh also indicated that he could exercise special constitutional powers under Article 371(H) in case there arises an emergency. “My visit to the Tirap district in February serves as a warning to the ultra outfits. We will not tolerate any form of subversive activities. The 14

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government will sternly deal with any unlawful activities. If necessary, special constitutional powers can be summoned to tackle the situation,” the Governor said during a press conference recently. As many as 39 boys from six different villages of Tirap district were reportedly taken hostage by the militant outfit over a period of one month, beginning January. The six villages are Khasa, Jagan, Wakka, Chingkhow, Konnu and Konsa. The unconfirmed reports say that the number may be more. The Dorjee Khandu-led Congress government in the state and the Congress-led UPA government at the centre are seeking early solution to the matter. The apex students’ union decided to start its agitation with a 12-hour bandh in Itanagar on February 20, coinciding with the statehood day celebration and observing it as a black day, followed by a 24-hour capital bandh on February 29 in the second phase and further on, a state-wide bandh on an unspecified date. Meanwhile, the AAPSU has called off the bandh and suspended its agitation temporarily at

the behest of the state government’s decision to form a ten-member panel to look into the matter. The union’s demands include early release of the abducted boys, deployment of additional company of paramilitary forces in Tirap and Changlang districts to push for the peace, eluding the districts since last two decades. AAPSU also wanted better deal from the Centre saying it has always shown “negligent attitude” towards the state. The first-phase of the 12-hour capital bandh passed off peacefully with no reports of any untoward incident from the area. In fact, this was the first occasion when Arunachal witnessed a bandh during its statehood day celebration in 21 years. With the official reports of 29 boys being released coming in, the AAPSU stance has not swung in favour of the governments. Reiterating its earlier stand, the union says it will not move an inch off its feet, unless its immediate demand for the release of the remaining boys was fulfilled. AAPSU president Kanu Bagang blamed both the state government and the Centre for their failure to tackle insurgency in these two districts. “The April 08

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