Shillong: General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of the Eastern Command, Lieutenant General Rana Pratap Kalita on Monday reiterated that “Arunachal Pradesh is a part of India”, although there are different perceptions of the Line of Actual Control between India and Tibet.
“Arunachal Pradesh is definitely part of India that has been clearly stated in various articulations that has come out from the government,” he told reporters.
“There are different perceptions about the Line of Actual Control that is the border between India and Tibet … because of which there are escalation in both sides when we go out to carry out patrolling activities,” Lt. Gen. Kalita who was here in Meghalaya to celebrate the diamond jubilee of the Headquarters 101 Area.
However, he said there are five agreements in place between India and the Chinese and all these problems are being resolved within the existing protocols and laid down provisions.
“Last year, we saw a stable security situation on the northern borders as well in Arunachal as well as in Sikkim. However, we are constantly monitoring the situation and our armed forces are prepared to meet any contingencies that arise in the border,” the Eastern Command Chief said.
Noting that there has been a perceptible improvement in the security scenario in India’s northeastern states over the past few years, Kalita said, due to the relatively peaceful situation, the region has witnessed development at a faster pace.
“Overall in the northeast, there is a definite improvement in the security situation and people are yearning for peace and development,” he said.
“States like Assam , Manipur and Nagaland have seen a lot of insurgent movements. There has now been a drop in violence and because of which the Armed Forces Special Powers Act has been removed in certain districts and police stations in these three states,” the army officer pointed out.
Similarly, in other states of the region there is peace and the law and order issues situation is being handled by the state police.
However, in states such as Mizoram, infiltration from Myanmar, due to instability in that neighbouring country, is causing some problems, but the situation is being handled by the local government and police.
In Arunachal Pradesh on the other hand three districts – Tirap, Changlang and Longding – have been affected by insurgency, but slowly there is a change in these districts with the people not supporting the insurgent groups.
“In fact the people have come out openly in the streets demonstrating against the extortion that is being carried (by the insurgents) in these areas,” Kalita said.
“Peace has come in and at certain times you need to take harsh steps to ensure sovereignty of your own country. Whenever there is a question or threat to the sovereignty of the country, definitely all instruments of power whether it is armed forces or diplomacy will come into play,” Kalita asserted.
Earlier, the GOC-in-C Eastern Command addressed all soldiers of 101 Area and complimented them for carrying forward the legacy of dedicated service to the Nation.
He also paid tributes to the Brave Hearts at the Shillong War Memorial, Rhino Prerna Sthal.
To commemorate the formation 60 glorious years of service to the Nation, the release of a special cover and stamp was also a part of the festivities.
The unveiling of busts of Major General Gurbaksh Singh Gill and Major General Gandharv Nagra, who were GOCs of 101 Area during the 1971 war and helped curate the resounding Indian Army victory in the 1971 war, was also another highlight of the festivities.
Kalita also flagged in the Rhino Riders Motorcycle Rally organised by Headquarters 101 Area. The rally was flagged off on April 9 by Meghalaya Governor Phagu Chauhan from Rhino Training Complex Shillong.
The motorcycle rally team travelled through Meghalaya, Assam, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh celebrating the spirit of patriotism in the year of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. They also interacted with the youth, veterans and Veer Naris.
101 Communication Zone, as it was then called, was raised in the wake of the Chinese aggression, on April 22, 1963, for the provision of logistic support to all formations and units in the Northeast Region. HQ 101 Area has a historically unique distinction of having taken part in active combat operations despite being a logistic formation.
It undertook Counter-Insurgency operations in Mizoram from 1966-69. During the 1971 war, HQ 101 Area took part in operations in Sylhet and Mymensingh districts of erstwhile East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and was the first formation to reach Dacca on the morning of 16 December 1971 leading to surrender by Pakistan that afternoon, earning it the name First in Dacca. Over time, 101 Area has evolved to provide logistic support in remote and challenging terrain in border areas across the entire North Eastern region.
It has contributed immensely in Nation building aiding infrastructure development, providing humanitarian aid and ensuring outreach to remote villages.
