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BORDUMSA, SEP 6: The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Chakma and Hajong community-based organisations (CBOs) of Arunachal Pradesh has called for a prompt, impartial and transparent investigation into the incidents that occurred at Bordumsa on September 3 and 4 during and SIR hearing. According to the JAC, around 600 Chakma electors from Bijoypur-I, II and III had assembled peacefully outside the Panchayat Hall, Bordumsa, on September 3 for the hearing. The proceedings were subsequently disrupted amid disturbances at the venue and were adjourned and rescheduled for September 4. The JAC said that during the rescheduled hearing on September 4, a large crowd reportedly entered the ADC Office Chamber, which had been designated as the hearing venue. It alleged that the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) conducting the hearing was assaulted and government property, including the ADC’s vehicle, was damaged. The committee said applicants waiting outside the premises reportedly remained peaceful, while there were also reports of provocation and stone-pelting in the vicinity. It further said communal slogans were allegedly raised on the public road as the gathering dispersed, followed by a verbal exchange and brief physical confrontation. The JAC also referred to reports of firearms being displayed and sounds resembling gunfire before security personnel intervened and dispersed the gathering using tear gas. However, it clarified that these were reports and allegations requiring verification through a proper investigation. Stressing that the incidents occurred in a large and fluid gathering, the JAC said responsibility for any specific act, including injuries or damage to property, should be established through a fair and evidence-based investigation. The committee expressed concern over the reported injuries sustained by an AAPSU member and some Chakma electors during the confrontation, and wished all those injured a speedy recovery. The JAC condemned any disruption of a lawful electoral hearing, assault on public officials, damage to government property, communal provocation, violence or display or use of firearms around a public hearing venue, irrespective of those responsible. It appreciated what it described as the restraint maintained by Chakma applicants and community leaders during the incidents and appealed to all stakeholders to uphold peace and non-violence. The JAC acknowledged that AAPSU and sections of the Singpho and Khamti communities may have concerns regarding the Form 6, 7 and 8 hearing process and its implications. It said such concerns should be addressed through constitutional, administrative and lawful mechanisms rather than confrontation or disruption of electoral proceedings. The committee urged the district administration to conduct a prompt and impartial investigation and take action in accordance with law based on the evidence collected. It also proposed a structured dialogue involving AAPSU, representatives of the Singpho and Khamti communities, Chakma and Hajong representatives and the State administration to address the concerns of all stakeholders. Appealing for restraint, the JAC urged all communities to refrain from retaliation and inflammatory rhetoric, avoid circulating unverified information on social media and allow the investigation and electoral process to proceed according to law. The committee said the communities of 49-Diyun-Bordumsa Assembly Constituency, despite having distinct histories and differing views on the present electoral process, share a long history of coexistence and a common future. It reiterated its commitment to peace, dignity and the rule of law in the constituency.    

NAMSAI, SEP 6: The District Congress Committee (DCC), Namsai, has strongly protested against the FIR registered against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over his remarks concerning an alleged “purification ritual” at a venue in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, where Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had addressed a political rally. Led by DCC President Chau Ambika Engling, the party alleged that the FIR was politically motivated and questioned why action was initiated against Rahul Gandhi for raising the issue while those allegedly responsible for the purported ritual had not faced similar scrutiny. The DCC said that if the alleged ritual was conducted because Kharge, a Dalit leader, had addressed the venue, it would amount to a serious manifestation of caste prejudice and would be contrary to the constitutional principles of equality and dignity. It maintained that speaking against caste discrimination and demanding accountability cannot be treated as a crime. The party also questioned what it described as an attempt to turn the complainant into an accused, alleging selective application of the law and misuse of state machinery to intimidate the Opposition. The DCC demanded immediate withdrawal of the FIR against Rahul Gandhi and sought registration of an FIR against all persons found responsible for the alleged ritual if the allegations are established. It also called for a fair, impartial, independent and time-bound investigation into the incident, equal application of the law without political interference and strict action against anyone found promoting caste discrimination or untouchability. The DCC said the issue was not merely about Rahul Gandhi but concerned the protection of constitutional values, equality and justice. It reiterated the Congress’ opposition to caste discrimination, untouchability and social humiliation.    

GANGTOK, SEP 6: The eastern Himalayan state of Sikkim has identified 40 high-hazard glacial lakes, with 16 of them classified as being at the highest risk of catastrophic outbursts that could threaten downstream settlements. The data is significant as it comes against the backdrop of the recent flash flood in Nepal, triggered by a glacial collapse near the Nepal-Tibet border on August 26 that left a trail of destruction with hundreds of people dead and scores missing. Though the catastrophe was not linked to a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF), the flash flood has highlighted a broader transformation across the Himalayas as glaciers retreat, new lakes are forming in their place, while existing ones are expanding. Glacial lakes are formed by the melting of glaciers and accumulation of meltwater in depressions on or near the glacier’s surface. GLOFs occur when these lakes suddenly burst open due to factors such as excessive water accumulation or triggers like earthquakes. These floods can cause significant destruction and pose serious risks to people and the environment downstream. One such outburst in Sikkim in October 2023 resulted in at least 60 fatalities and extensive damage in the Mangan, Gangtok, Pakyong and Namchi districts. It also destroyed the Chungthang dam, a crucial part of a major hydropower project. At a media sensitisation workshop on GLOF Risk Mitigation held here on Thursday, Principal Secretary Sandeep Tambe said remote sensing and satellite imagery were being used to monitor changes in glacial lakes. Of the 40 high-hazard lakes, 16 are in Category A (highest risk), two in Category B (high risk) and nine in Category C (moderate to low risk), while 13 remain unclassified, he said. The workshop focused on strengthening public understanding of GLOF risks and ensuring that verified, science-based information reaches the public. Yougan Tamang, the press secretary to Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, said media sensitisation was crucial to communicating the scientific measures being undertaken to mitigate GLOF risks. Sikkim’s Department of Science and Technology was designated the nodal department for GLOF hazard assessment and mitigation studies in February 2025, with the work being carried out through an interdisciplinary approach, Tamang said. The state is also working towards what could be the country’s first dedicated GLOF Risk Mitigation Protocol, aimed at creating a standardised scientific framework for assessing, preparing for and mitigating glacial flood risks. It could also serve as a model for other Himalayan regions, an official release said. Field studies cover water-level and discharge monitoring, Electrical Resistivity Tomography, geophysical and differential global positioning system surveys, bathymetry, flood modelling, hazard assessment and feasibility studies for lowering lake levels and constructing flood-retention structures. Tambe said a uniform strategy could not be applied to all lakes, and separate proposals had therefore been prepared for the Lhonak Complex, Shako Chho Lake and Gurudongmar Complex, according to the release. The Sikkim government has identified Shako Chho as most vulnerable to GLOF. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) for Shako Chho has been submitted to the National Disaster Management Authority, and a preliminary project report has been sent to the Jal Shakti Ministry. The Central Water Commission is preparing a DPR along with the Sikkim government for a flood-retention structure at Dolma Sampa near Muguthang in the Lhonak Complex. For the Gurudongmar Complex, a moraine plug wall at the lake outlet has been proposed. The Department of Science and Technology and Brahmaputra Board are jointly working on the proposal, taking into account both GLOF risk and the lake’s cultural and religious significance. The Science and Technology Department’s principal director-cum-secretary D G Shrestha said Sikkim’s devastating 2023 GLOF had underscored the urgency of strengthening preparedness. At the policy level, Sikkim is pursuing a whole-of-government approach, clearer business rules, measures to bridge technical expertise gaps and a proposal for a commission on glacial hazards. Various lake-level lowering techniques are being examined, including siphoning, pumping, improving existing channels, artificial channels, moraine cutting with safety walls and tunnelling. Shrestha outlined a four-stage mitigation process — preliminary assessment, comprehensive assessment, designing mitigation measures and execution — and stressed the need to strengthen institutional, technical and financial capacity. He also said additional early-warning sensors had been proposed across Sikkim following a virtual meeting with Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, who gave a positive assurance on the proposal. On Thursday, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan reviewed the preparedness of Himalayan states and Union Territories in dealing with GLOF risks and snow avalanches. The chief secretaries and State Disaster Management Authorities of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, along with senior officers of the Ministry of Home Affairs, National Disaster Management Authority, Central Water Commission, India Meteorological Department and the Defence Geoinformatics Research Establishment attended the meeting. (Source: PTI)    

ITANAGAR, SEP 5: The Arunachal Indigenous Tribes’ Forum (AITF) and All Nyishi Students’ Union (ANSU) have   strongly condemned the reported attack on leaders of the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) at Bordumsa-Diyun in Changlang district on September 4 during a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) hearing. In a statement on Saturday, AITF said the incident, allegedly involving Chakma and Hajong refugees, was a serious matter concerning the demographic, constitutional and political interests of the indigenous people of Arunachal Pradesh. It described the reported violence as an attempt to marginalise the state’s indigenous population. Following an executive virtual meeting held late on Friday night, the AITF strongly opposed any attempt to enrol refugees or other ineligible persons in the electoral rolls of Arunachal Pradesh. It stressed that the SIR exercise must be conducted strictly in accordance with the Constitution, applicable laws and prescribed eligibility criteria. AITF urged the concerned authorities to conduct a thorough and impartial inquiry into the incident, identify those responsible and take appropriate legal action. It also called for adequate security for all representatives and stakeholders participating in the SIR hearing process. AITF general secretary Dr Bengia Tada said the forum would continue to safeguard the constitutional and legitimate interests of the indigenous people of the state. Meanwhile, in a statement, ANSU president Ashok Doka expressed concern over the September 4 incident and said any act of violence against student activists and indigenous people was “highly condemnable and unacceptable”. The union said it was particularly concerned that an ANSU primary member, who was part of the AAPSU team, sustained injuries while performing his duties. ANSU maintained that any attack on its primary members while serving the interests of the state and indigenous people would not be tolerated and said it would intensify its democratic movement through lawful means if such incidents continued. Doka also cautioned the leadership of the refugee community to understand and respect the sentiments of the indigenous people of Arunachal Pradesh and urged all sides to refrain from activities that could aggravate tensions or undermine peaceful coexistence. Demanding an impartial investigation, ANSU said every person found involved in the alleged attack should be identified and prosecuted in accordance with law. It said appropriate legal action should also be initiated if the probe establishes that any individual or leader had organised, instigated, encouraged or led the violence. The students’ body further called upon the Centre and the Arunachal Pradesh government to take “decisive and concrete steps” towards resolving the long-pending Chakma-Hajong refugee issue while safeguarding the constitutional and legal interests of the indigenous people of the state. ANSU said recurring tensions surrounding the issue could not be allowed to continue indefinitely and stressed the need for a permanent, lawful and just solution in the larger interest of peace and security. The union said it would remain vigilant and warned that any further violence or provocation would invite a strong, organised and democratic response through lawful means.