Arunachal min visits disputed villages along Assam border

Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh land management minister Balo Raja on Tuesday visited the disputed villages along the Arunachal-Assam border under Balijan and Banderdewa circle in Papum Pare district.Raja, who had taken charge as the chairman of the regional committee for Papum Pare in July this year, visited the disputed sites at Dullung Ramghat, Karbi, Radaso under Balijan circle and Tani Hapa, Pichola, Gorubandha under Banderdewa circle.The minister, who was accompanied by Doimukh MLA Nabam Vivek, Papum Pare deputy commissioner Jiken Bomjen, border affairs deputy director Rome Mele, Balijan additional deputy commissioner Takar Rava, extra assistant commissioner Dani Rikang, panchayat leaders and representatives of Papum Pare Border People's Forum and All Papum Pare District Students' Union, is minutely studying the disputed areas to ascertain facts and workout amicable solutions with the Assam counterpart. Highlighting the importance of maintaining cordial relations with neighbouring states and the spirit of negotiation, Raja emphasised that local MLAs, deputy commissioners, and other officials must play pivotal roles in resolving this longstanding issue. The minister also requested all the villagers to maintain status quo. Six regional committees were formed to expedite the identification and resolution of disputed areas along the 804.1-km interstate boundary, following the historic Namsai Declaration signed on July 15, 2022, where the chief ministers of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam agreed to end the decades-old border issue.