Correspondent

DOLLUNGMUKH, Jun 12:The people of Dollungmukh under Kamle district today carried out a massive protest demanding shifting of the Indian Air Force firing range which they say is threatening the life and properties of those living in the vicinity due to bombing drill carried out by the Air Force.

Hundreds of residents of the area today carried out a peace march displaying banners, leaflets and shouting slogans against the Air Force and the indiscriminate bombing drill in the area with scant regard for the human settlements residing in the area long before the IAF firing range was set up.

Social activist Bini Ranjan while talking to the media said that it is a long pending demand of the public of the Dollungmukh area. The Indian Air Force signed a lease agreement in 1968 without informing the public of Dollungmukh and government of Arunachal Pradesh, the agreement was reviewed in 1975.

‘The practice is war-like and our life is horror,’ he said adding that several homes have been destroyed and livestock killed over the course of time.

In 1992, a local Bini Tabom lost his life and no compensation was paid to the family members, he added.

Recently on June 8, another local Bini Todum, a former jawan of the Sashashtra Seema Bal suffered multiple injury and fracture after being hit by shrapnel from a bomb which exploded metres away.

The IAF practice and drill ground falls between 11 villages and is threatening the very existence of the local indigenous population of the area which is around ten thousand. This is the beginning and if the state government and central government do no stop or process shifting of the dangerous bombing zone from the residential area we shall resort to democratic means in future, Ranjan said.

When asked about the court of enquiry constituted by IAF based in Shillong, he said that locals are unsatisfied and want shifting of the practice zone altogether.

Admitting that the matter of shifting can only be resolved after decision taken by the central government, Dollungmukh Area Welfare Forum (DAWF), Chairman Er Rotom Tebin however said that the state government can process the case for consideration based on genuineness.

‘We had submitted memorandum to Chief Minister Pema Khandu with a copy to the Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju on the occasion of the inauguration of newly created Kamle district on December 15, 2017 and again submitted one to Union Minister for Defence Nirmala Sitharaman recently at Itanagar to stop the bombing and routine exercise but to no avail and therefore had to stage the protest for our safety and security,’ he said.

Meanwhile, All Kamle district students union (AKDSU) Vice President Bini Noga says that the locals have high expectation from MoS Rijiju.

‘He should know the pain felt by the local indigenous people of his constituency. What would be the future of the youths and our next generation if this situation continues,’ he said.

The IAF firing range must go for the betterment and safety of the local citizens of Dollungmukh area as well as people living on either side of the border, he asserted.

Noga also demanded the government to pay compensation to the victim of June 8.

The protesters also staged dharna at the local office of the IAF near the firing range.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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