News Analysis India

Tag: Arunachal

  • Logging at tiger reserve: Wood-based industries in Arunachal district sealed

    Express News Service

    GUWAHATI: The forest department of Changlang in Arunachal Pradesh has sealed all wood-based industries in the district, which shares a border with Myanmar, days after rampant logging by the smugglers was detected at the 1,982 sqkm Namdapha National Park and Tiger Reserve.

    The action follows a report by this newspaper on an approximately 20km kutcha road, which the smugglers built in and around Namdapha to ferry logs using trucks after trees were lopped off.It was learnt Arunachal Principal Chief Conservator of Forests N Tam was camping at Miao in the district. He could not be reached over the phone.

    In an interim action taken report submitted to the Chief Conservator of Forests, Southern Arunachal Circle, Deomali, on the illegal felling of trees in Namdapha and adjoining Miao Reserve Forest, the DFO of Nampong Forest Division S Mossang wrote that checking and inspection of the entire illegality-affected areas was being carried out since March 15.

    “During the course, a large quantity of illegal timber, dumped at scattered locations, has been detected,” Mossang further wrote. He said as a precautionary measure and to facilitate proper checking and investigation of the matter, the operations of all wood-based industries under Namphai Forest Range had been “suspended and sealed” and all relevant records/registers were taken under custody.

    A committee has been also constituted to check and investigate the wood-based industries. Official sources said all wood-based industries in the entire district had been sealed. The forest department lodged an FIR in Miao and requested the police to probe the cases of large-scale illegalities, including encroachment, and book the culprits as per law.

    Earlier, eight people were arrested. Two others – the alleged kingpins of timber smuggling – are absconding though.A joint team of the forest department and the district administration had on Tuesday detected the road built by the smugglers and the rampant smuggling of timber inside Namdapha.

    GUWAHATI: The forest department of Changlang in Arunachal Pradesh has sealed all wood-based industries in the district, which shares a border with Myanmar, days after rampant logging by the smugglers was detected at the 1,982 sqkm Namdapha National Park and Tiger Reserve.

    The action follows a report by this newspaper on an approximately 20km kutcha road, which the smugglers built in and around Namdapha to ferry logs using trucks after trees were lopped off.It was learnt Arunachal Principal Chief Conservator of Forests N Tam was camping at Miao in the district. He could not be reached over the phone.

    In an interim action taken report submitted to the Chief Conservator of Forests, Southern Arunachal Circle, Deomali, on the illegal felling of trees in Namdapha and adjoining Miao Reserve Forest, the DFO of Nampong Forest Division S Mossang wrote that checking and inspection of the entire illegality-affected areas was being carried out since March 15.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “During the course, a large quantity of illegal timber, dumped at scattered locations, has been detected,” Mossang further wrote. He said as a precautionary measure and to facilitate proper checking and investigation of the matter, the operations of all wood-based industries under Namphai Forest Range had been “suspended and sealed” and all relevant records/registers were taken under custody.

    A committee has been also constituted to check and investigate the wood-based industries. Official sources said all wood-based industries in the entire district had been sealed. The forest department lodged an FIR in Miao and requested the police to probe the cases of large-scale illegalities, including encroachment, and book the culprits as per law.

    Earlier, eight people were arrested. Two others – the alleged kingpins of timber smuggling – are absconding though.A joint team of the forest department and the district administration had on Tuesday detected the road built by the smugglers and the rampant smuggling of timber inside Namdapha.

  • Sela tunnel in Arunachal to ensure better movement of troops and weaponry: Officials

    Another senior official said that the tunnel will help in quicker movement of troops and weapons and it has strategic significance.

  • Army inducts upgraded L70 anti-aircraft guns in forward areas along LAC in Arunachal Pradesh sector

    By PTI

    TAWANG: In a major boost to its fire power, the Indian Army has deployed a sizeable number of upgraded L70 anti-aircraft guns in the high mountains along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh in addition to its existing M-777 howitzers and Swedish Bofors guns, officials said on Wednesday.

    The deployment of the anti-aircraft guns having a range of 3.5 km in the treacherous region is part of a series of measures that the Army has taken to bolster its operational preparedness along the over 1,300-km LAC in eastern sector in the face of the 17-month standoff in eastern Ladakh.

    The Army has already positioned a significant number of M-777 howitzer guns that were first received three years ago.

    As part of a high state of preparedness to deal with any eventuality, the Army units including those of the ‘integrated defended locality’ have been undergoing strenuous physical training and military drills on a daily basis.

    The ‘integrated defended locality’ is a specialised unit comprising various arms of the Army including infantry, air defence, and artillery.

    Military officials said the upgraded L70 guns were deployed around two-three months ago in several key locations in Arunachal Pradesh in addition to other sensitive positions along the entire LAC and that their inductions have significantly enhanced the Army’s overall fire power.

    “The guns can bring down all unmanned aerial vehicles, unmanned combat aerial vehicles, attack helicopters and modern aircraft. The gun has enhanced target acquisition and automatic target tracking capability under all weather conditions with high-resolution electro-optical sensors comprising a daylight television camera, a thermal imaging camera and a laser-range finder,” said Capt Sarya Abbasi of the Army Air Defence.

    “The gun is also equipped with a Muzzle Velocity Radar for enhancing the accuracy of fire. The gun has the ability to be integrated with tactical and fire control radars which give it more flexibility in its deployment,” she said.

    Capt Abbasi said the legacy gun has now been transformed into a sophisticated air defence gun.

    Another official said the upgraded gun system that operates along with a high-end Israeli radar can be counted among the best available air defence guns in its class globally.

    In the last few months, the Army has also deployed a good number of easily transportable M-777 ultra light howitzer guns which are at times moved from one place to another in Chinook helicopters depending on operational requirement.

    “The addition of upgraded L70 air defence guns to the existing Bofors guns and recently inducted M-777 howitzers significantly enhanced the Indian Army’s overall operational capability,” said a senior official on condition of anonymity.

    The L70 guns were originally manufactured by Swedish defence firm Bofors AB in 1950s and India has stared inducting over 1,000 of them in the 1960s.

    The legacy guns have been upgraded by state-run Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).

    Following the escalation in tension in eastern Ladakh standoff, the Army has taken a series of measures to boost its operational capabilities in the eastern sector bordering China that included procurement of all terrain vehicles, precision guided ammunition, high-tech surveillance equipment, radars and weapons.

    Officials said enhancing combat capability is a continuous process and it will go in sync with operational requirements and overall security situation.

    They said an equal amount of focus has been given to enhancing operational capability in the Northern as well as eastern sector.

    The eastern Ladakh border standoff between the Indian and Chinese militaries erupted on May 5 last year following a violent clash in the Pangong lake areas and both sides gradually enhanced their deployment by rushing in tens of thousands of soldiers as well as heavy weaponry.

    The tension escalated following a deadly clash in Galwan Valley on June 15 last year.

    As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, the two sides completed the disengagement process in the Gogra area in August and in the north and south banks of the Pangong lake in February.

    The last round of military talks on October 10 ended in a stalemate following which both sides blamed each other for the impasse.

    In a strong statement after the 13th round of talks, the Indian Army said the “constructive suggestions” made by it at the negotiations were neither agreeable to the Chinese side nor could Beijing provide any “forward-looking” proposals.

    Each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the sensitive sector.

  • India giving major push to infrastructure development for quick mobilisation of troops in Arunachal sector

    By PTI

    RUPA: India is giving a major push to boosting connectivity and use of high-tech surveillance along the nearly 1,350-km Line of Actual Control in the Arunachal Pradesh sector to ensure quick mobilisation of troops and heavy weaponry to deal with any eventuality in the face of the standoff with China in eastern Ladakh.

    As part of the mega plan, around 20 bridges, a number of tunnels, airbases and several key roads are being developed in strategically key areas in Arunachal Pradesh to bolster the overall military preparedness, officials said on Monday.

    Major General Zubin A Minwalla, General-Officer-Commanding of the 5 Mountain Division, said the focus has been to further strengthen road infrastructure as well as the use of high-tech surveillance equipment to create more battlefield transparency.

    The 5 Mountain Division is tasked with keeping vigil over areas from Bum La to west of Bhutan and is considered one of the most critical formations of the Indian Army.

    “The adversary cannot surprise us now. We are confident of what our goal is and we are not going to be surprised by them,” he told a group of reporters while elaborating on steps being taken by the Indian Army to boost military preparedness.

    “We are following an approach of confidence in dealing with any possible situation. The Indian Army’s focus has been on maintaining the sovereignty of the land,” Maj Gen Minwalla said.

    He said there has been a “tremendous push” on infrastructure development by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and the civilian government.

    “There is no such increase in deployment (of troops). We are creating more (battle field) transparency through technology. We are using technology to increase our awareness of the entire situation,” he said.

    Maj Gen Minwalla said besides road connectivity, the larger push has been on use of high-tech equipment for surveillance and to enhance assets of the Army Aviation so that they can act as “force multiplier” “We are giving more push in terms of enhancing capabilities by our own means of technology and processes in terms of infrastructure,” he said.

    “We are not reacting. We have our own plans and are confident of meeting our own goals and targets in terms of capability building,” he said when asked whether India’s overall approach is reactionary towards China.

    Anant Kumar Singh, an engineer with the Border Roads Organisation, said around 20 bridges are being constructed besides many key roads and tunnels.

    He said the tunnels in Nechiphu and Sela pass will be ready much ahead of their scheduled timeline for completion in August next year.

    The major road projects include construction of a road from Zero Point near Tenga to Itanagar and another one called ‘Western Axis road from Shergaon to Tawang.

    “These two roads will be crucial for overall capability enhancement,” said Singh.

    As tensions with China increased following the eastern Ladakh row last year, India ramped up overall deployment of troops along the LAC besides speeding up infrastructure development to gain tactical advantage.

    The Army is also cranking up its day and night surveillance over the LAC in the region using a fleet of remotely piloted aircraft A sizeable fleet of Israeli-made Heron medium-altitude long endurance drones is carrying out round-the-clock surveillance over the LAC in the mountainous terrain and sending crucial data and images to command and control centres.

    Along with the drones, the Indian Army’s aviation wing has also been deploying the Weapon System Integrated (WSI) variant of the Advanced Light Helicopter Rudra in the region, adding more teeth to its tactical missions in the region, they said.

    The government is also working on connecting Tawang with a railway network as part of a decision to enhance infrastructure in the region.

    The eastern Ladakh border standoff between the Indian and Chinese militaries erupted on May 5 last year following a violent clash in the Pangong lake areas and both sides gradually enhanced their deployment by rushing in tens of thousands of soldiers as well as heavy weaponry.

    The tension escalated following a deadly clash in Galwan Valley on June 15 last year.

    As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, the two sides completed the disengagement process in the Gogra area in August and in the north and south banks of the Pangong lake in February.

    The last round of military talks on October 10 ended in a stalemate following which both sides blamed each other for the impasse.

    In a strong statement after the 13th round of talks, the Indian Army said the “constructive suggestions” made by it at the negotiations were neither agreeable to the Chinese side nor could Beijing provide any “forward-looking” proposals.

    Each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the sensitive sector.

  • India enhances day and night surveillance over LAC in Arunachal sector

    By PTI

    MISAMARI: India has significantly cranked up its day and night surveillance at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Arunachal Pradesh sector using a fleet of remotely piloted aircraft and other assets as part of a broad strategy to strengthen overall military preparedness to deal with any Chinese misadventure, people familiar with the developments said on Sunday.

    As tensions boiled over between the two countries following the Galwan Valley clashes last year, India ramped up its overall deployment along the nearly 3,400-km-long LAC besides speeding up infrastructure development to gain a tactical advantage.

    The people cited above said a sizeable fleet of Israeli-made Heron medium-altitude long-endurance drones is carrying out round-the-clock surveillance over the LAC in the mountainous terrain and sending crucial data and images to command and control centres.

    ALSO REA: Our leaders will routinely travel to Arunachal Pradesh as they do to any other state – India tells China

    Along with the drones, the Indian Army’s aviation wing has also been deploying the Weapon System Integrated (WSI) variant of the Advanced Light Helicopter Rudra in the region, adding more teeth to its tactical missions in the region, they said.

    In an expansion of its aviation wing in the region, the Army has come out with an independent aviation brigade in the region this year to bolster its overall operational preparedness in the sensitive region, they said.

    They said though the Heron drones were first deployed in the region around four-five years back, now the integration of surveillance has been significantly enhanced under the ‘sensor to shooter’ concept to employ military forces at short notice for any possible operational objectives.

    The deployment of the WSI version of the ALH helicopters has also provided the Army an added advantage to carry out various missions in the high-altitude areas.

    ALSO READ: China objects to Vice President Venkaiah Naidu’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh

    Asked about the weapons package of the ALH helicopters, they refused to divulge the details but said it is one of the best and would be very effective against the adversary.

    “Overall, our day and night surveillance capability has seen massive upgrades since last year and we are in a much better position to deal with any eventualities in the region,” said one of the people cited above.

    The Indian Army is also procuring a fleet of Heron TP drones on lease from Israel that are capable of operating for nearly 45 hours at an altitude of up to 35,000 feet.

    The Heron TP drones are equipped with automatic taxi-takeoff and landing (ATOL) and satellite communication (SATCOM) systems for an extended range.

    ALSO READ: India, China troops face-off at Arunachal’s Tawang; PLA men detained temporarily

    They said additional roads, bridges and railway infrastructure are being built in the Arunachal sector considering their strategic requirement in the wake of evolving security dynamics in the region.

    The government is also working on connecting Tawang with a railway network as part of the decision to enhance infrastructure in the region.

    The people cited above also said that infrastructure at almost all airfields along the LAC including the Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) was enhanced as per operational requirements.

    The eastern Ladakh border standoff between the Indian and Chinese militaries erupted on May 5 last year following a violent clash in the Pangong lake areas and both sides gradually enhanced their deployment by rushing in tens of thousands of soldiers as well as heavy weaponry.

    The tension escalated following the deadly clashes in Galwan Valley on June 15 last year.

    As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, the two sides completed the disengagement process in the Gogra area in August and in the north and south banks of the Pangong lake in February.

    However, the last round of military talks on October 10 ended in a stalemate.

    Each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the LAC in the sensitive sector.

  • Provoked by govt order, NSCN-IM asks Arunachal lawmakers to withdraw support to CM Khandu

    Express News Service

    GUWAHATI: Insurgent group National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM) has asked all 11 legislators, including three ministers, of eastern Arunachal Pradesh to withdraw their support to Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Deputy CM Chowna Mein.

    The call from the outfit comes in the wake of a constitutional amendment in Parliament followed by an Arunachal administrative decision to remove the Naga tag on at least four tribes living in Tirap, Changlang, and Longding districts.

    On August 5, a bill unanimously passed by the Rajya Sabha resulted in the removal of the reference “any other Naga tribes” from the ST list of Arunachal and replaced it with the specific names of Nocte, Tangsa, Tutsa, and Wancho tribes.

    For the NSCN-IM, this has a huge political significance. The removal of the Naga tag would mean that technically there are no Nagas in Arunachal. By extension, this would also mean that NSCN-IM’s envisaged “Greater Nagalim” cannot claim – at least technically – the three Arunachal districts, seen in the NSCN-IM’s Greater Nagalim map.

    The immediate provocation for the NSCN-IM was the order by the Longding District Magistrate. On August 24, the DM had issued a circular which removed the phrase “any other Naga tribes” and inserted the Wancho tribe.

    The NSCN-IM said the DM’s order was clearly intended to erase the word “Naga”.

    “It has blatantly insulted and humiliated the sentiments and rights of the Nagas of Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts in particular and Nagas in general, which is unacceptable,” the outfit said in a statement.

    It added: “It was done willfully to undermine and distort the rights and identity of the Naga people. Nagas were never a threat to human existent anywhere”.

    Stating that it will never accept such a “derogatory” order, the NSCN-IM pointed out that the Government of India during Atal Behari Vajpayee’s tenure as the Prime Minister had recognised the uniqueness of Naga history.

    The rebel group said if the Naga MLAs of Arunachal failed to uphold the right of the Nagas in Arunachal, they would be considered as anti-Naga.

  • Landslides in 20 spots affect traffic movement on key Arunachal road

    By PTI

    ITANAGAR: Two days of heavy monsoon rain led to massive landslides at more than 20 locations along the vital Balipara-Charduar-Tawang (BCT) Road in western Arunachal Pradesh, severely affecting movement of vehicular traffic, a Border Roads Organisation (BRO) official said on Sunday.

    No casualty was reported due to the landslides which occurred in West Kameng district following heavy rain on Friday and Saturday.

    A vast stretch of the road between Sessa and Nechiphu areas was damaged by the landslide, due to which a large number of commuters were stranded on both ends, the BRO official said.

    On receiving the information of landslides, the organisation mobilised men and machinery and started work on a war footing to restore connectivity by filling the breaches and clearing debris, BRO commander Col Anil Kotial said.

    The stranded vehicles started moving through the affected areas from Saturday night while restoration works continued till Sunday, he said.

    The BCT Road connects three districts – East Kameng, West Kameng and Tawang.

  • Cattle die of infectious disease in Arunachal 

    By Express News Service
    GUWAHATI:  A number of domestic animals, including mithuns (gayals) and cattle, have died while scores of others have fallen sick following an outbreak of the foot-and-mouth disease across Arunachal Pradesh. The cases were reported mostly from the Siang belt—Siang, East Siang, Upper Siang and West Siang districts. The animals are getting infected even after being vaccinated, officials said.

    “The disease has been reported from central Arunachal district of Papum Pare to eastern Arunachal district Anjaw. Instructions have been passed on to the officials concerned to take some immediate measures for controlling it,” Deputy Director in the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Tachi Taku said on Saturday.

    The department could not specify the number of animal deaths but the locals claimed at least a dozen mithuns have died in Riga, Pangkong, Riew and Sitang villages of Siang district. The officials were skeptical about the efficacy of the vaccine after many animals were infected even after being administered the shots.

    “We are finding it difficult to control the disease. Officials have told us that even the vaccinated animals are falling sick again,” Taku said. Over one lakh animals were vaccinated in the first phase of vaccination in October last year. The infection is largely among mithuns but some districts reported it also among cattle. 

  • Rahul Gandhi attacks PM Narendra Modi on reports of Chinese village in Arunachal Pradesh

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue of national security after reports that China has built a village in Arunachal Pradesh.

    “Remember his promise – ‘??? ??? ????? ???? ?????’ (Will not let the country bow),” Gandhi said on Twitter as he posted a link of a news report about the alleged “Chinese village”.

    Congress leader Randeep Surjewala also slammed the prime minister on the matter.

    ALSO READ: Tracking report on intrusion into Arunachal Pradesh – Government

    “Modiji where is that 56-inch chest,” he asked on Twitter.

    In a cautious reaction to the reports, India had on Monday said it keeps a constant watch on all developments having a bearing on the country’s security, and takes necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

    Congress leader P Chidambaram had on Monday demanded answers from the government on the issue, alleging that BJP MP Tapir Gao has claimed that China has built a 100-house village in the “disputed area” deep into Arunachal Pradesh.

    ALSO READ: Chidambaram demands explanation from Modi government on BJP MP’s claim of ‘Chinese’ village in Arunachal

    He said if the allegation made out by the BJP MP is true, will the government again give a clean chit to China or will blame the previous governments for it.

    “Mr Tapir Gao MP, belonging to BJP, has alleged that deep into Arunachal Pradesh, in a  ‘disputed area’ within Indian territory, the Chinese have built  a 100-house village, a bazaar and a two-lane road in the last year.

    “If this is true, it is clear that the Chinese have altered the status quo by converting a disputed area into a permanent settlement of Chinese nationals. What has the government to say about these startling facts,” he had said on Twitter.

    ALSO READ: Have taken necessary measures to safeguard sovereignty – India on reports of Chinese village in Arunachal

    The India-China border dispute covers the 3,488-km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC).

    China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of southern Tibet, while India contests it.

    India and China are locked in a bitter border standoff in eastern Ladakh for over eight months.

    India and China have held several rounds of military and diplomatic talks in order to resolve the eastern Ladakh standoff, but no significant headway has been made for its resolution.

  • Tracking report on intrusion into Arunachal Pradesh: Government

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI, GUWAHATI: Reacting to a report on China building a village within the Indian territory in Arunachal Pradesh, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday said the government is keeping a watch on all the developments that have a bearing on country’s security and territorial integrity.

    However, the district magistrate (DM) of Upper Subansiri, where the alleged encroachment has taken place, expressed ignorance of the issue. 

    “I just heard it. I am in the district but there is no such information from any source or villagers. The district administration has not received any such report,” DM Kanto Danggen said adding “the district is vast and remote. In many areas along the border, there is hardly any population.”

    Meanwhile, an MEA official said they have taken note of recent reports on China undertaking construction works along the border areas with India. “In response, our government too has strengthened the border infrastructure on our side,” the official said. The MLA from the region, Ninong Ering, said, “It is difficult to ascertain but China is building infrastructure along the whole Arunachal border.”

    Incidently, Chief Minister Pema Khandu, who had been in his home district of Tawang for past three days on an official trip, left for Delhi on Monday. It was not immediately known if the visit was pre-scheduled. “I don’t know if it was prescheduled. He just went off,” a source in the Chief Minister’s Office said.

    The report of Chinese encroachment comes days after a US declassified document claimed that India has the capacity to counter Chinese provocations.

    “India remains preeminent in South Asia and takes the leading role in maintaining Indian Ocean security, increases engagement with Southeast Asia, and expands its economic, defence, and diplomatic cooperation with other US allies and partners in the region,” the document stated.

    ‘China has undertaken such activity in past too’

    An MEA official said China has undertaken such construction activity in the past several years. “The government takes all necessary measures to safeguard the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”