‘Migration of border villagers adding to Army’s challenges along LAC’ 

Eastern Command chief says action will be taken against soldiers found to have committed lapses in the Mon incident

GUWAHATI

The migration of border villagers has added to the challenges the Indian Army has been facing along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in trying to match the rapid enhancement of infrastructure and operational capabilities by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China.

Lieutenant General Rana Pratap Kalita, chief of the Army’s Eastern Command, said this in Guwahati on Monday, while asserting that the partial withdrawal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act from three northeastern States has aided the redeployment of troops on the northern borders of the eastern sector and focus more on China.

“Migration of people from near the LAC in Arunachal Pradesh has led to shortage of people to work in those areas. The outmigration to the hinterland has been compounded by the unwillingness of people from outside to work in those difficult areas,” he said.

Hundreds of villagers have moved to towns in the more accessible areas in search of greener pastures over the years.

For the Army, this has added to the challenges of a tough terrain along the unstable eastern Himalayas and inclement weather in developing infrastructure and operational capabilities along the LAC.

On the situation along the Tibetan border, Lt Gen Kalita said the complexities arise because of the differences in perception about the line that has not been demarcated. “But we have mechanisms in place in accordance with existing bilateral agreements and protocols to defuse tension and work towards peace and tranquillity along the LAC,” he said.