Singchung-a bone of contention between govt, Hrussos

Itanagar, May 17 (UNI) Singchung, a hamlet surrounded by Army base camps in the picturesque Tenga Valley of West Kameng district, has become the bone of contention between the administration and the Hrussos (Akas).

Chief Minister Gegong Apang is scheduled to inaugurate Singchung, connected with two bridges across Tenga river, as a newly upgraded Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) administration with independent charge on May 19.

The All Hrusso (AKA) Socio-Cultural Society (AHSCS), the apex body of the Hrusso society, has declared a general strike (chakka-bandh and shutters down) on May 18 and 19 within the Hrusso dominated areas of the district to protest the move.

Gateway to three districts viz., East and West Kameng and Tawang, Bhalukpong falls within Hrusso territory. The 48-hour-bandh is expected to take its toll on local commuters of the three districts.

The Hrussos were demanding creation of an independent ADC headquarter at Thrizino, some 130 kms away from the district headquarters Bomdila, by upgrading its present Sub-Divisional Office.

The AHSCS claimed that sometime back in 2004 the Chief Minister, during his visit to the place as a chief guest in a local festival, had assured to comply with their demand in an open forum.

''But we came to learn through local dailies that the cabinet declared to open the ADC headquarter at Singchung, a mere 25 kms away from Bomdila,'' says Sheriff Nimasow, Spokesman of the AHSCS.

The Hrussos find a "hidden agenda" in the whole process. AHSCS members, including ZPMs of both Thrizino and Bhalukpong, feared that there is a plan to "divide" the Hrussos.

The Thrizino-Buragaon assembly constituency consists of three blocks- Singchung, Jameri-Bhalukpong and Thrizino. While Singchung is inhabited by the Buguns, the other two are predominantly inhabited by the Hrussos.

They argue that by opening an independent ADC administration at Singchung, the Jameri-Bhalukpong block would come directly under its jurisprudence. Thus ultimately through delimitation, Singchung and Jameri-Bhalukpong would become a new assembly constituency as the later has enough population that when added with Singchung would reach the 'magic' number needed for declaring an assembly constituency.

AHSCS pointed out that the sitting MLA belongs to the Bugun community and is from Singchung. On the other hand, the Thrizino block with a population of 3202 (2001 census) would be attached to a neighbouring constituency.

''In this way, we the Hrussos, who constitute the major part of the population in the constituency would be turned into a minority,'' alleged Gijey Jebisow, the lady ZPM from Jameri-Bhalukpong anchal block.

The Society has given an ultimatum to the state government that by this evening if it fails to justify the Hrusso people the decision to create the ADC post at Singchung instead of at Thrizino, it would go ahead with the proposed two-day general strike.

The Society further said that the May 18-19 strike is only the first phase of agitation and if the government fails to heed to its demands a series of agitations would be launched in the constituency.

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