Staff REPORTER
Itanagar, Mar 12: Home Minister Mama Natung on Thursday informed the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly that insurgency-related violence in the Tirap-Changlang-Longding region has witnessed a significant decline over the last five years due to improved coordination among security forces and the surrender of misguided youths.
Replying to a supplementary question raised by MLA Honchun Ngandam, the minister said that 168 cadres of various underground (UG) organisations operating in the TCL region have surrendered and joined the mainstream during the period. He also informed the House that only three civilian casualties were reported in the region during the last five years.
Natung noted that Arunachal Pradesh does not have any homegrown underground organisation, and appealed to misguided youths who have gone astray to return to the mainstream and lead a normal life by engaging in sustainable livelihoods with dignity.
Responding to a query from Dambuk MLA Puinnyo Apum regarding the upgradation of Paglam police beat outpost under Dambuk Police Station in Lower Dibang Valley district to a C-Class police station, the Home Minister said the proposal could not be considered at present.
He stated that the area has not witnessed major crimes such as dacoity, kidnapping or underground activities and that only 22 cases were registered at Dambuk Police Station in the last five years. However, he assured that the strength of police personnel at Paglam outpost would be increased.
Replying to a supplementary question from MLA Chow Zingnu Namchoom, the minister said that the upgradation of Namsai Police Station is under active consideration of the department.
To another query from Ngandam, Natung assured that the department would examine the need for posting additional police personnel at Pongchau and Wakka police stations or any other police stations across the state based on requirement.
Meanwhile, whenTali MLA Jikke Tako raised a “strange” case alleging that the Tali Police Station had asked a murder accused who wanted to surrender to run away citing that the police lock-up was “not safe”, the Home Minister said that an inquiry would be conducted. He added that strict disciplinary action would be taken against the concerned police official if the allegation is found to be true.