DC sends SOS as tension mounts along inter-state boundary

Itanagar, July 12 (UNI) Tension escalated along Arunachal's Lower Diabang Valley district bordering Sadiya in Tinsukia district of Asom after Tuesday's police firing from both sides to disperse a violent mob during a peace meet at Shantipur.

The peace meeting was convened for finding an amicable solution to skirmishes caused during the 12-hour Lower Dibang Valley district bandh on the previous day, sources said here today.

The Dibang Adi Students' Union(DASU) had called the bandh protesting over the non-availability of PDS items and demanding cancellation PDS nominee.

The union members had allegedly assaulted a person in Shantipur area to enforce the bandh causing injuries which had caused repercussion and prompted both the district administrations to intervene to normalise the situation.

Reportedly, Lower Dibang Valley deputy commissioner (DC) P Hosai was gheraoed by people from the Asom side, demanding immediate arrest of those involved in the conflict.

The angry mob ransacked a police check post and offices, including damaging four vehicles. The mob pelted stones, injuring SP Issac Pertin and snatched revolvers from his personal security officer, the DC said, adding blank firing was ordered to control the enraged mob.

Though available police forces of both sides were deployed to defuse the situation, but the forces were not adequate, he said adding however, there was no report of loss of life or major injury in the incident.

However, tension increased after civilians and passenger buses were threatened at Sadiya in retaliation, while a 12-hour dawn to dusk bandh was called in Sadiya sub-division yesterday to register protest.

However, passengers were moving to and fro with police protection, but bus services to Tinsukia and vice-versa were suspended, sources said.

While his Tinsukia counterpart had assured deployment of more forces in the sub-division, the DC had sent an SOS seeking immediate deployment of paramilitary forces at the check gate to contain escalation of tension. He also has appealed to all sections of people to dissuade rumour mongers to help normalise the situation and improve good relation between both sides.

Informing that the public of his side were demanding immediate arrest of the ''culprits'', Sadiya SDO Arup Arandhara told UNI over the phone that he intended to resolve the crisis but for the public was not allowing him.

The SDO informed that sufficient forces from both state police and CRPF personnel were deployed to prevent any untoward incident and assured protection of life and property.

Meanwhile, DASU, in a release, today said, ''We do not want to fight. We need peace, communal harmony and national integration. We also profoundly and earnestly request the people of Shnatipur area for their cooperation for improved relations.'' UNI