Reports of two Chinese transgression in Arunachal: Rijiju

Pasighat (Arunachal), Aug 19: Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju today said there had been reports of the Chinese army transgressing into Arunachal Pradesh on two occasions recently.

One incident was reported from Kibithu area in remote Anjaw district on July 22 and another at Thangsa in Tawang district in the same month, the minister told reporters here after inaugurating the Pasighat Advance Landing Ground.

Rijiju said he was not describing these as acts of incursion, but transgression. "We cannot term it as incursion, but transgression as the Chinese army just crossed the perceived area along the Line of Actual Control," he said.

He said when the matter was reported from Kibithu by the ITBP, the Centre verified it and found that it was only an act of transgression.

Asked about the government's efforts to match China's infrastructure development across the border, the Union minister said the Centre had already begun strengthening infrastructure across the border and the ALG at Pasighat was a major step in this direction.

"We are not challenging or competing with any other country by strengthening our border infrastructure. We will have to build robust infrastructure to strengthen our defence and whatever we did is because India is an emerging power with capability.

So IAF should have operational bases in all the bordering states," he said. He said the NDA government at the Centre attached priority to development of border infrastructure.

Asked about the proposed ALG at Tawang, the minister said an area had been identified between Tawang and Lumla at an altitude of 11,000 feet and the height in such a rugged terrain was very challenging.

"We will have to see whether the site is feasible or will have to look for an alternative," he said. When his attention was drawn to the civilian terminal at the ALG at Pasighat which is yet to be constructed, Rijiju said three locations were identified and he would discuss the matter with the Airport Authority of India and the Union Civil Aviation Ministry.

PTI