Citizens in Arunachal-Assam Border Caught in Catch 22 Situation

Itanagar, Oct 19 : People living in the 'disputed' areas on the Arunachal Pradesh-Assam border have been caught in a catch 22 situation, often becoming the targets of threats and harassment from anti-social elements of both the states. Government employees, particularly teachers, posted in these areas are the worst sufferers who are denied facilities of a normal life.

Teachers, working in the Government Middle School at New Serene under Nari-Koyu constituency in East Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh, a disputed area, say they are neither provided with any facility by Arunachal government nor given protection from harassment by people from across the border.

''We get threats and are told to close the school and vacate the area on one hand and on the other, the government wants us to stay put and run the school,'' said the school's headmaster, Bomgi Doke.

Threats and verbal abuses are a common occurrence for them, but still they are not leaving the school only out of love for the students whose future will otherwise be doomed, Doke says.

''Poor students of adjoining villages depend on this school for a better future. As teachers we can't forsake them,'' Doke's colleagues said.

On February 12, this year, unknown miscreants burnt down the teachers' barrack of the school and ever since the teachers are putting up in a makeshift accomodation, they said.

Home Minister Tako Dabi, who represents Nari-Koyu constituency, said that the state government was trying its best to provide facilities to the school to instill confidence among teachers and students.

''We are in constant touch with the Assam government for bringing a permanent solution to the decades-old boundary problem and hope with Congress governments in both states as well as in the Centre, soon the problem would be resolved.''