Airport-displaced Chakmas in Arunachal Pradesh decry denial of access to minority commission member

Hollongi airport displacement scam-accused prevented them from meeting member of panel, says association

People displaced by a greenfield airport in Arunachal Pradesh have decried the denial of access to a member of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) currently visiting the State to investigate allegations of non-implementation of minority schemes for the Buddhist Chakmas.

NCM member Rinchen Lhamo is on a tour of the State, which began on May 17 and ends on May 22.

Settled by the Indian Government in the 1960s after they were displaced by the Kaptai Dam in East Pakistan, now Bangladesh, the Chakmas reside in three districts of Arunachal Pradesh – Changlang, Namsai and Papum Pare. Ms. Lhamo’s schedule has been restricted to Changlang and Namsai in the eastern part of the State.

Papum Pare, encompassing State capital Itanagar, is in western Arunachal Pradesh.

The Chakma Displaced Families Justice Demand Committee (CDFJDC) said the NCM member’s schedule was drawn up deliberately to keep her away from the airport-affected families.

“Those accused in the Hollongi airport displacement scam, in which 156 Chakma families were displaced, hatched the conspiracy to prevent us from meeting Ms. Lhamo,” CDFJDC president Koruna Sindhu said.

According to the 2011 Census, Papum Pare has 1,562 Buddhist Chakmas considered the most vulnerable within the community.