Guwahati: The Nah tribal community in Arunachal Pradesh expressed concern over alleged Chinese incursions along the international border in Upper Subansiri district, claiming that the PLA had occupied a major portion of their grazing, hunting and agricultural areas over the past six years.In a memorandum recently submitted to Upper Subansiri deputy commissioner, the Nah Welfare Society (NWS) president Keru Chader said, “Our ancestral lands which were our hunting areas where we freely roamed and collected forest products few years back and our cattle grazing areas are now under the occupation of the Chinese PLA.”Alleging Chinese activities across five locations, which they claimed came under the Taksing revenue circle in Upper Subansiri, NWS said the Chinese govt had been rapidly extending its control over territories along the international border by strategically occupying important locations.Nacho MLA, Nakap Nalo, said the matter required official verification as it was related to national security. ”The allegations need to be officially confirmed by the administration,” Nalo said, before adding, “There are obvious concerns (regarding the allegations) since it’s a national issue.”Detailing the transgressions, NWS alleged that the Chinese had significantly increased their activities long the Taksing border area over the last 10 to 15 years “with an intention to occupy as much land as possible”.According to the tribal organisation, several locations, which had been under their traditional control until 2020, were allegedly occupied by the PLA.The organisation said locations like Oying in the Asaphila area, Paniar (Chujarta area), Marpan (Marnafe), Potrang (Lake), and Tindingtang (TG), had gradually come under Chinese incursion, alleging that these places were close to Taksing headquarters, with some of them being considered pilgrimage sites.The memorandum also alleged construction of military camps and roads by the Chinese army on Indian territory.“We do not doubt our Army and always have faith in them. They have been guarding our land for many years, but their efforts are not enough. The intention and speed of the present activities of the Chinese PLA at Taksing area is very alarming and a matter of grave concern for us. We are losing our land inch by inch day by day to them,” Chader said in the memorandum.Meanwhile, neither the district administration nor the state govt have issued any official response. Senior district officials, including deputy commissioner Gambo Tasso, too, remained unavailable for any comment.
