Itanagar: The Nyishi Elite Society (NES), the highest body of Nyishi community of Arunachal Pradesh, has appealed to the state government and its Assam counterpart to solve the inter-state boundary row at the earliest.
A team of NES executive members led by its president Bengia Tolum visited Tarasso in Papum Pare district yesterday, after receiving alleged cases of land encroachment and atrocities, being meted out to locals allegedly by officials from Assam, according to reports from sources on Tuesday.
The NES heard out the grievances of the villagers and assured to take the matter to the appropriate platform.
In a public meeting at the circle office here, Mr Tolum expressed dismay over repeated breach of mutual trust by officials and people of Assam, who continued to perpetrate offensive acts towards Arunachalees, sources said.
He said people from either side of the boundary had formed a peace committee in 1992 and mutually agreed to maintain status-quo and respect each other’s boundaries.
However, there have been constant reports of encroachment and trespassing from the Assam side, he alleged.
Expressing solidarity with the people of Tarasso, Mr Tolum said it was high time that both the governments chalked out a permanent solution.
He urged the villagers to maintain peace and not to resort to any provocative acts, while assuring them the NES would take up their concerns with the state government.
Located at the foothills, Tarasso, one of the most remote and underdeveloped circle headquarters of Papum Pare district, has been the apple of discord between Assam and Arunachal.
The Assam forest department claimed that most part of Tarasso belongs to its Behali forest range which was established in 1917, but the villagers here contested the claims, saying the Arunachalees have been living here even before 1914, sources added. (UNI)