ES Reporter 

 

ITANAGAR, Sep 27: The Simong Community Youth Association (SCYA) on Tuesday appealed to the state government to stay away from interfering into the “solved” case of Eko Dumbing/Riwotala area in Upper Siang district stating that it is causing 'communal tension'.

Speaking to reporters at the Press Club here, President SCYA Asin Libang alleged the state government of ‘divide and rule’ policy in the solved case of the Eko Dumbing/Riwotala area. 

The interference of the state government is disrupting the solved case causing communal tension. Two Deputy Commissioners were transferred consecutively within seven months, when they were ready to implement the signed agreement between the communities, Libang said.

Claiming that the area belongs to the Adi community, he said that written records of meetings held in 1968, 2006 and 2022, are available as proof where it is mentioned that the Eko Dumbing/Riwotala area belongs to the Adi community. He also informed, that on August 4th this year, in a meeting with the Deputy Commissioner of the district, members of both communities signed an agreement declaring that the disputed area belongs to the Adi community.

The meeting also agreed to maintain communal harmony and peaceful coexistence. All the Memba-Khamba community members signed the agreement except for three persons, he added.

Mentioning the names of those three persons who did not sign the agreement, Libang alleged them of violating the agreement reached between the two communities by secretly visiting and constructing structures at the disputed area. An FIR was lodged against the three persons by the SCYA for the same, but no action has been taken against them till date, informed Libang.

Eko Dumbing is a sacred place for the Memba-Khamba, Buddhist and Adi communities of Upper Siang. The district administration has banned any kind of activities in the area due to constant religious disputes.

In this matter, the state government constituted a peace committee headed by MP Tapir Gao and MLAs Phurpha Tsering and Zingnu Namchoom as members. On January 7 earlier this year, the Committee adopted a four-point resolution in a meeting held in Itanagar, which was rejected by both the Adi and the Memba-Khamba communities, he added.

The locals consider Eko Dumbing a sacred place, were all indigenous customary ritual and religious offerings are attached to it.