Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh Raga legislator Rotom Tebin on Sunday submitted a memorandum to Chief Secretary Manish Gupta on behalf of the people of Dollungmukh, seeking cessation of bombing activities by the Indian Air Force (IAF) at the Dolum firing range.
The MLA of the 25 Raga (ST) Assembly Constituency, accompanied by panchayat leaders and senior citizens of Dollungmukh subdivision, met the Chief Secretary during his two-day visit to Dollungmukh to review the final preparations for the commissioning of the 2,000 MW Lower Subansiri Hydroelectric Project, which is nearing commission.
During the meeting, Tebin raised serious concerns about ongoing bombing activities by the IAF at the Dolum firing range.
The memorandum called for the immediate cessation of bombing activities, terming them “illegal and hazardous to the civilian population.”
It also urged the Arunachal Pradesh government to intervene with the IAF regarding the conditional two-year lease extension of the firing range, which expired on January 31, 2025.
“Despite the MoU signed on April 20, 2023, in the presence of Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah between the Government of Assam and the Government of Arunachal Pradesh, the IAF continues to coordinate with Assam authorities on matters concerning Dollungmukh. This is a clear violation,” the memorandum stated.
According to the MoU, all six villages under the Dollungmukh subdivision fall within Arunachal Pradesh’s jurisdiction. Of these, three villages are partially located within the bombing range.
The memorandum emphasized that any matter affecting these villages should be addressed solely by the Arunachal Pradesh government, the Government of India, and the Indian Air Force — not the Assam government.
“Our people are suffering every day due to the bombings. If any casualty occurs, who will take responsibility – the IAF or the Government of Arunachal Pradesh?” the memorandum questioned.
The delegation also raised concerns over alleged illegal encroachment by Assam’s Forest Department and urged the state government to ensure adherence to the 2023 MoU signed between the two states.
The key demands placed before the chief secretary include immediate stoppage of illegal bombing by the IAF at the Dolum firing range, urgent dialogue with the IAF for a conditional two-year lease extension to ensure transparency and public safety, and immediate communication with the Assam government to direct its forest department to honour the April 20, 2023 MoU.
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In response, the chief secretary assured that the state government would examine the memorandum carefully and take appropriate steps to address the concerns raised.
