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CHIMPU, AUG 21: Chimpu Police Station continued its SAMVAD community outreach initiative with an awareness session at the Itanagar Municipal Corporation (IMC) Office here on Friday, focusing on the new criminal laws, drug-related offences, cybercrime and community participation in crime prevention. The session was conducted by Chimpu Police Station OC Inspector N. Nishant and 2nd OC Inspector Sunita Nabam. Participants were sensitised on the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Emphasis was laid on preventing drug-related activities and maintaining greater vigilance among the bazar community, particularly in view of the recovery of contraband drugs from commercial premises. The police team also highlighted the importance of cybercrime awareness among shopkeepers, noting that lack of awareness can leave members of the business community vulnerable to online fraud. The IMC was encouraged to facilitate awareness programmes for shopkeepers in coordination with the police and promote their active cooperation in preventing crime and ensuring public safety. The civic body was further encouraged to motivate shopkeepers to install and properly maintain closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras at their establishments to strengthen crime prevention and assist police investigations. SAMVAD is an initiative of Chimpu Police Station under the guidance and supervision of Itanagar SDPO and Superintendent of Police Itanagar Capital Region, aimed at strengthening police–public interaction and promoting people-friendly policing.    

KALAKTANG, AUG 21: The Sub-Divisional Level Monitoring Committee (SDLMC) meeting was held at the ADC’s Office here on Friday under the chairmanship of Kalaktang MLA Tseten Chombey to review the progress of ongoing developmental projects and address key issues concerning the constituency. The meeting was attended by West Kameng Deputy Commissioner Dr Dilip Kumar, Superintendent of Police DW Thongon, Additional Deputy Commissioners, Heads of Departments (HoDs), Zilla Parishad Members (ZPMs), Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) leaders and other stakeholders. Chombey highlighted the importance of holding SDLMC meetings at the sub-divisional level, saying they provide a platform for PRI representatives to remain informed about developmental activities and raise concerns with the concerned departments. He urged HoDs to ensure that development plans remain public-oriented and that the MLA and PRI representatives are consulted during their preparation. He also assured support in addressing manpower-related issues faced by departments. Emphasising the objectives of Viksit Bharat, Chombey raised the issue of poor mobile connectivity in several parts of the constituency and urged BSNL, Airtel and Jio representatives to take immediate measures to improve network and internet services in uncovered and shadow areas. He also highlighted upcoming schemes and initiatives and sought public cooperation. West Kameng Deputy Commissioner Dr Dilip Kumar directed HoDs to prioritise protection walls for government land and quarters. He advised the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) to avoid acquiring catchment areas during land acquisition to help address water shortage issues. He also stressed the inclusion of Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) in Panchayat Development Plans. Noting difficulties faced by villagers and students in availing Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) benefits due to inadequate Aadhaar documentation, the DC directed the Statistics Department to organise special Aadhaar enrolment camps across the region. He also asked the Lead District Manager (LDM) to submit timely reports on loans and subsidies provided to beneficiaries. While reviewing initiatives under the Vibrant Village Programme-2, the DC directed the Arunachal State Rural Livelihoods Mission (ArSLM), Agriculture and Horticulture departments to prepare a plan for promoting shiitake mushroom cultivation in the region. Expressing concern over the cultivation and use of cannabis in the Kalaktang area, Dr Dilip Kumar cautioned the public against illegal cultivation and warned that strict action would be taken against those involved under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. SP West Kameng, ZPMs, PRI leaders and other participants shared their views and raised issues related to development in the region. HoDs presented the status of various ongoing schemes and programmes through PowerPoint presentations and responded to queries raised during the meeting.    

GIPULIN, AUG 21: The Department of Agriculture Dibang Valley organised an Awareness Generation and Orientation Programme on Natural Farming (NF) at Gipulin Cluster to promote sustainable and eco-friendly agricultural practices. The programme was conducted under the supervision of ADO Duyu Udi and attended by ZPM Eta Mihu, Gram Panchayat (GP) leaders from Gipulin, Angrim Valley, Aliney, Mihundo and Etabe, besides farmers and self-help group (SHG) members. Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Dibang Valley Subject Matter Specialist (Agroforestry) Neelam Sunny sensitised participants on the principles and benefits of Natural Farming, with emphasis on indigenous bio-inputs such as Beejamrit and Jeevamrit to improve soil health and reduce dependence on external inputs. To facilitate wider adoption of Natural Farming, a need-based Bharatiya Prakritik Bio-input Resource Centre (BRC) will be established under the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF). The centre will support local production and supply of bio-inputs, particularly benefiting farmers who may not be able to prepare them individually. The initiative is aimed at promoting healthier soils, resilient farming systems and sustainable livelihoods, contributing to a greener agricultural future for Dibang Valley.

  ITANAGAR, AUG 21: The Nitivihar Police Station team conducted a general crime awareness programme at Bunny Fantasy World School, Museum Road here, sensitising students and teachers on road safety, cybercrime, drug abuse and the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) 112. During the programme, students were advised to follow traffic rules, wear helmets and seat belts, avoid rash and negligent driving, and maintain responsible behaviour on the roads. The participants were also briefed about common forms of cybercrime, including online fraud, phishing and the risks associated with sharing one-time passwords (OTPs), passwords and personal information. They were advised to exercise caution while using social media and other digital platforms. Awareness was further imparted on the harmful effects and legal consequences of drug abuse. Students were urged to stay away from drugs and avoid negative peer influence. The police team also explained the use of ERSS 112 for seeking police and emergency assistance in situations requiring immediate intervention and advised students to use the emergency service responsibly. The programme, conducted under the direction of Itanagar Superintendent of Police, concluded with active participation and interaction from students and teachers. Participants were encouraged to remain vigilant and safety-conscious and to spread the awareness among their families and communities.

NEW DELHI, AUG 20: Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday said border areas had been neglected in the past but were now a “top priority” of the Narendra Modi government, as he sought to counter claims of fresh Chinese incursions in Arunachal Pradesh. Rijiju also invoked former defence minister A K Antony’s 2013 statement in Parliament, saying the Congress leader has then acknowledged India’s historical policy of keeping border areas underdeveloped and that allowed China to steal a march over India in building infrastructure and capabilities along the frontier. Antony, however, had also made it clear in the same speech that the policy had been abandoned 20 to 25 years earlier and said successive Indian governments had since been strengthening infrastructure and military capabilities in border areas. He had claimed that the UPA government, then in its ninth year in office, had done the “maximum” to strengthen such capabilities. The remarks by Rijiju, who represents Arunachal West in the Lok Sabha, come amid renewed concerns over Chinese military activity in the Upper Subansiri region of Arunachal Pradesh. “Some people casually commented on border. Border areas are tough but @narendramodi govt is committed to border development. I went to Maza, Galemo, Taksing areas in Arunachal Pradesh to speed up infrastructure works. Borders were neglected in the past but it’s top priority now,” Rijiju said in a post on X. In a separate post, he targeted the Congress over its record on border infrastructure. “Amongst the Congress leaders, A.K. Anthony Ji is very honest. As Defence Minister he admitted the Congress Govt’s policy of not making border infrastructure on the floor of the Parliament,” he said. Rijiju was referring to Antony’s remarks in the Lok Sabha on September 6, 2013, when the then defence minister acknowledged that China had built significantly better infrastructure along the border and attributed India’s lag to a policy followed for decades after Independence. Explaining the historical thinking behind the policy, Antony had said, “Independent India had a policy for many years that the best defence is not to develop the border. Undeveloped borders are safer than developed borders. So, for many years, there was no construction of roads or air fields on the border areas.” “By that time, China continued to develop their infrastructure in the border areas. So, as a result, they have now gone ahead of us. Compared to us, infrastructure-wise, capability-wise in the border areas, they are ahead. I admit that. It is a part of history,” he had said. But Antony had gone on to say that the approach was no longer India’s policy and that the change had begun well before the UPA assumed office in 2004. “But, of late, in the last 20-25 years, the Indian governments also realised the mistake and changed its policy. Now, we are also strengthening our capabilities in the border areas,” he had said. “I can tell you, without any exaggeration, that only during the last nine years, as the UPA Government, we have done the maximum to strengthen the capabilities in the border areas. In times of UPA-I & UPA-II, it is being done. And may be the future governments also will continue the same thing, whoever comes, they will continue the same thing,” Antony had said. The latest controversy in Arunachal Pradesh has centred on the Taksing sector. On Wednesday, Rijiju had rejected claims that Chinese troops had penetrated as much as 60 km inside Arunachal Pradesh, but acknowledged concerns among local residents. “India-China Border issue is a serious subject. Do not make false claim on such sensitive matter. We don’t want to repeat the past mistakes. Govt will address the concern of the local people and protect Indian Territory,” Rijiju wrote on X. India and China share a more than 3,400-km-long disputed boundary whose alignment is not mutually agreed upon at several places. After reports of tension along the border surfaced recently, the Ministry of External Affairs said peace and tranquillity along the LAC was critical to the overall relationship with China. “In matters relating to the border areas between India and China, we have always emphasised in discussions with the Chinese side that we consider these issues as most serious,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said on August 11. “We have also stated that the state of the border affairs will reflect on the state of our larger bilateral ties,” he said, adding that maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas was of “utmost importance”. (Source: PTI)