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NAMSAI, SEP 5: The Arunachal Pradesh Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) on Saturday held a consultative meeting with Heads of Departments (HoDs) in Namsai to discuss administrative challenges and measures to improve the efficiency and delivery of public services. ARC Chairman Pramod Jain IAS (Retd) chaired the meeting held at the conference hall of the Deputy Commissioner, Namsai. Deputy Commissioner Lobsang Tsering, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police and HoDs of various departments attended the meeting. In his address, Tsering highlighted key administrative challenges faced in the district, including shortages of officers and supporting staff, inter-departmental coordination, procedural efficiency and timely delivery of public services. The participating HoDs shared their views and suggestions on administrative issues and challenges confronting their respective departments. Jain emphasised the need for efficient, transparent and citizen-centric governance, improved inter-departmental coordination, optimal utilisation of resources and simplification of administrative procedures. He encouraged the officers to identify practical measures to address existing challenges and enhance the efficiency and responsiveness of government departments.      

AAPSU calls stakeholders’ meet on Sept 12 ITANAGAR, SEPT 4: Tension gripped Bordumsa in Changlang district on Friday after a hearing under the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls turned violent, prompting the local administration to impose prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). Bordumsa Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Sabadam Tayang said the hearing concerning Bijoypur was initially held at the Panchayat Hall on September 3 to dispose of claims and objections filed under Forms 6 and 7. The hearing was adjourned following disruptions by some youths and rescheduled for September 4 at the ADC office. According to Tayang, when the hearing resumed on Friday, a group of protesters under the banner of the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU), demanding deletion of Chakma and Hajong voters enrolled after 2006, allegedly broke through the office gate, entered the premises and disrupted the proceedings. He said the protesters vandalised the office premises and allegedly manhandled him, besides pelting stones at members of the Chakma and Hajong communities who had gathered for the hearing. Counter stone-pelting followed, leaving an AAPSU volunteer with a head injury, he said. Tayang said the situation was under control and heavy police forces had been deployed in the area. AAPSU president Meje Taku, however, alleged that a “high-level committee” of the union visiting Bordumsa was targeted during the incident. He claimed that AAPSU members and activists assisting and monitoring the SIR process were attacked, alleging that knives and daos were used against them. Taku dismissed claims that injuries were caused by police tear gas or firearms as “AI-generated propaganda” and demanded that no First Information Reports (FIRs) be registered against AAPSU members or activists. “They started the fight, and we are going to finish it. We gave them shelter, water, and food as guests, but today they are targeting the masters of the house,” Taku said. AAPSU demanded the immediate arrest of those allegedly responsible for the violence and suspension of the ongoing SIR exercise in all Chakma-Hajong-inhabited areas. The union also sought the immediate suspension of officials it alleged were showing “favouritism and nepotism” towards the Chakma and Hajong communities. Taku said AAPSU would submit a list of officials against whom action was being sought and warned that failure to address the union’s demands could compel it to resort to further democratic means of protest. Meanwhile, AAPSU has convened an extensive stakeholders’ meeting at the DK Convention Hall in Itanagar on September 12 to deliberate on the Bordumsa incident and decide its future course of action. The union has invited community-based organisations, district students’ unions, students’ wings, indigenous apex bodies, political parties and other stakeholders to participate in the meeting. Taku urged all concerned organisations and stakeholders to attend the meeting without fail. The All India Chakma Students’ Union (AICSU) president Drisyamuni Chakma denied the allegation of an attack on AAPSU members and activists and questioned the involvement of AAPSU members in the ongoing SIR process. The administration has deployed additional security personnel in the area as authorities continue to monitor the situation. (With inputs from PTI)    

LIKABALI, SEP 4: A team of Galo legislators led by Sports & Youth Affairs Minister Kento Jini on Friday visited Hime, Germe and nearby villages in Lower Siang district to assess the prevailing situation and interact with residents amid continuing concerns following the recent Hime-Bodoti incident along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border. The team comprised Deputy Speaker of the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly Kardo Nyigyor, MLAs Pesi Jilen and Tojir Kadu, representatives of the Galo Youth Organisation (GYO), Lower Siang Students’ Union and Galo Welfare Society (GWS), along with officials of the district administration and police. During the visit, the legislators and representatives interacted with local residents, heard their concerns and apprehensions, and reviewed the ground situation. They emphasised the need to maintain peace, harmony and normalcy in the area. The visit comes in the backdrop of the August 10 confrontation at Hime, which left several people injured and renewed tensions over the longstanding land and boundary-related issue involving Hime and Bodoti. Jini described the matter as highly sensitive and called for restraint, dialogue and mutual understanding among all stakeholders. He stressed that sustained engagement was essential to prevent further escalation and work towards a peaceful and lasting solution. The legislators also reaffirmed their commitment to working with local communities, civil society organisations, the district administration and security authorities to address concerns through dialogue and democratic means. Appealing to all sections of society to maintain peace, the team urged people to refrain from actions that could disturb public order or aggravate the situation. It stressed that the larger interests of the people and peaceful coexistence among communities must remain the priority. The visit was aimed at strengthening communication with affected communities, understanding the ground situation and promoting collective efforts towards a peaceful, stable and lasting resolution of the Hime-Bodoti issue.      

ITANAGAR, SEP 4: Naharlagun Police have arrested a person and recovered 23 stolen LPG cylinders, officials said on Friday. ICR Naharlagun SP Nyelam Nega said the breakthrough came after a case was registered under the BNS following a series of LPG cylinder thefts in the locality. A police team analysed the modus operandi and pattern of the thefts, leading to the identification of the accused as 30-year-old Arjun Juga, a resident of IG Park Colony here. Juga was arrested from Juli Road on Thursday, the SP said. “Following the interrogation of the accused, multiple coordinated raids were conducted at different locations, leading to the recovery of all 23 stolen LPG cylinders,” Nega said. The police team was led by Naharlagun police station officer-in-charge inspector Krishnendu Dev and others under the supervision of SDPO Rishi Longdo. Expressing concern over crimes targeting unattended properties, Nega appealed to citizens to remain vigilant and keep a close watch on their neighbourhoods. He said habitual offenders often target locked and unattended houses to commit burglaries. PTI    

PASIGHAT, SEP 4: Severe erosion triggered by flooding in the Siang River has caused extensive loss of agricultural land in several villages under Mebo Sub-Division of East Siang district, raising concerns over the livelihood and future of affected farming families. According to villagers, large areas of cash crops and bamboo groves have already been washed away, while agricultural fields in Borguli village, including Wet Rice Cultivation (WRC) areas, are increasingly coming under threat from the advancing river. Speaking to the Pasighat News team, local resident Otil Tayeng pointed to the extent of the damage and said he had already lost around eight acres of bamboo grove, which had been an important source of income for his family. Tayeng said his agricultural land was the primary means of livelihood for his family and helped him support his children’s education. With the erosion continuing to advance, he expressed apprehension that the remaining land could also be swept away by the river. He said the erosion in the area began in 2021 and has intensified over the years, causing increasing concern among farmers and residents living along vulnerable stretches of the riverbank. The affected villagers have appealed to Mebo MLA Oken Tayeng and Chief Minister Pema Khandu to treat the issue on priority and initiate permanent embankment reinforcement and other effective flood and erosion protection measures. With farmland and livelihoods continuing to remain at risk, the villagers stressed the need for an immediate and sustainable solution to prevent further loss of agricultural land and property to the Siang River.  

CHONGKHAM, SEP 4: An advanced manuscript scanning machine was handed over to the Arunachal Pali Vidyapeeth at Chongkham on Friday to facilitate the digitisation and preservation of rare manuscripts and traditional knowledge. The machine was handed over by Namsai Deputy Commissioner in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, Bhantes, officials and members of the Tai-Khamti Heritage & Literature Society at a function held at the Vidyapeeth’s conference hall. The specialised equipment has been provided by the Department of Research, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, for manuscript digitisation under the Gyan Bharatam Mission, a Government of India initiative aimed at preserving, digitising and making accessible the country’s rich manuscript heritage and traditional knowledge. Speaking on the occasion, Mein stressed the importance of preserving Arunachal Pradesh’s literary, cultural and traditional knowledge for future generations. He said community-preserved manuscripts were not merely historical documents but repositories of knowledge, language, wisdom, culture and heritage passed down through generations. Mein appreciated the Department of Research for providing the specialised equipment and called for systematic digitisation, scientific preservation and documentation of manuscripts preserved by the Arunachal Pali Vidyapeeth and the Tai-Khamti community. He said digitisation would help protect fragile manuscripts from deterioration while making their contents accessible to scholars, researchers and future generations. He further said the Gyan Bharatam Mission offered an important opportunity to showcase Arunachal Pradesh’s manuscript heritage at the national and global levels. He called upon institutions, scholars, community organisations and manuscript custodians to work collectively to identify, document and preserve the state’s manuscript wealth. The initiative is expected to strengthen the systematic preservation and digitisation of rare manuscripts and contribute to safeguarding the intellectual and cultural heritage of the Tai-Khamti community.