Staff REPORTER
ITANAGAR, Aug 27: The Arunachal Frontier Tribal Front (AFTF) has expressed serious concern over the recent Assam-Arunachal boundary-related dispute involving Hime village in Lower Siang district and Tarasso in Papum Pare district, and called for a permanent administrative and legal solution to the long-standing land and security issues faced by villagers.
Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, AFTF chairman Tadak Nalo said a team of the organisation visited Hime village on August 25 to assess the ground situation and interact with local residents.
Nalo claimed that, based on the team’s assessment and the 2023 land records associated with the Namsai Declaration on the Assam-Arunachal boundary, the disputed area falls within Lower Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh. He said the area is located around 6–7 km from Bodoti village in Assam.
According to Nalo, the dispute dates back to 1976 and has led to repeated tensions between residents of the two villages, with the situation escalating further on August 10.
He said the disputed area, measuring around 20 bighas, had allegedly been allowed by Hime villagers to residents of Bodoti for grazing cattle. “They had only allowed them to use the land as grazing land; it was never intended as a donation or transfer of ownership,” he said.
Nalo further claimed that in 1987, residents of Bodoti had assured Hime villagers that they would not stake any claim over Hime village land. However, the issue has remained unresolved.
The AFTF chairman said his team found many Hime residents living under fear and insecurity. He claimed that some villagers were staying in camps at night due to concerns over their safety and the possibility of further confrontation.
The organisation said similar land and boundary-related concerns exist in areas under Tarasso circle in Papum Pare district and urged the State Govt to examine such vulnerable locations and take preventive measures before disputes escalate.
The AFTF has submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister and Home Minister seeking immediate intervention. Nalo said the Hime issue should not be viewed merely as an Assam-Arunachal conflict, but as a long-pending dispute involving two villages that requires a permanent administrative and legal resolution.
Among its demands, the AFTF has sought establishment of a permanent police station at Hime, stronger administrative presence, designation of an officer to address local grievances and improved road connectivity within Arunachal Pradesh so that the villagers do not have to pass through the Assam routes.
The organisation also highlighted the long-pending proposal for an East-West Corridor, stating that improved intra-state connectivity is essential for effective administration, security and development of the region. It urged the government to take concrete steps to revive and implement the connectivity project.
The AFTF appealed to the State Govt and other stakeholders to visit Hime, assess the situation firsthand and take concrete measures to ensure the safety of villagers and resolve land and boundary disputes permanently.