[ Bengia Ajum ]

HIME, 14 Aug: As the rest of India prepares to celebrate Independence Day, the people of trouble-torn Hime village in Kangku circle of Lower Siang district are facing an uncertain time.

On 10 August, a large group of people from neighbouring Assam, reportedly led by villagers from Bodoti, attacked Hime village over a land dispute. Since then, the villagers have been living in fear. The violent clash left people injured on both sides.

The Assam-based Takam Mising Porin Kebang (TMPK) had imposed an economic blockade against the entire state of Arunachal Pradesh, demanding the arrest of four individuals from Hime who were allegedly involved in using firearms during the clash, in which 12 people were injured.

Though the blockade has been temporarily suspended, the TMPK has warned that it will resume the blockade if no arrests are made within the next 48 hours. As the deadline nears, Hime's villagers have said that one-sided action should not be taken.

"First, the persons who attacked our village should be arrested. We have lodged an FIR against 12 individuals at the Likabali police station in this regard. There is video evidence showing how they raided our village carrying lethal weapons, including pistols. They kidnapped GB Mikkok Ngomle and tortured him. First, the police should arrest the 12 individuals named in the FIR," said a Hime villager.

The 12 people named in the FIR include Mondil Megu alias Migom Megu, Roki Doley, Harish Mili, Rajiv Pegu, Orem Pegu alias Punnu, Teju Pegu, Ganesh Narah, Bobesh Lagachu, Durgapur Lagachu, Sila Dutta Lagachu, Bikrom Lagachu and Bittu Tayung.

Gaon Burah (GB) Mikkok Ngomle, who was present when the mob reached the village, was allegedly kidnapped by the group and taken to Assam.

"A large mob, comprising more than 1,000 persons from Bodoti village on the Assam side entered Hime village in an aggressive and threatening manner. Many members of the mob were carrying firearms, daos/machetes, lathis and other weapons. I, being the GB of Hime, along with two villagers, approached the mob and peacefully requested them not to damage any public or private property and to refrain from carrying out unlawful activities. But they started beating us severely. Two boys who accompanied me managed to escape, but I was kidnapped and taken to the Assam side. They kept firing while taking me towards Assam," said GB Ngomle.

He was allegedly kept hostage for around six hours and severely tortured. He was later released in exchange for a boy from Assam who had been caught by Hime villagers at the clash site.

GB Ngomle said that had members of the TMPK not intervened, the mob could have killed him. He credited the TMPK with saving his life.

The villagers alleged that the 10 August incident was pre-planned with the motive of capturing the village. "This was not a boundary clash. They came three kilometres inside Arunachal territory from the boundary. They knew that most of the villagers had gone for the SIR hearing at the Kangku circle headquarters that day. Therefore, more than 1,000 people raided our village with a plan to burn down houses and permanently capture the area," said Gume Noshi Ngomle of Hime.

She further requested the state government to repair the Hime-Likabali road. "We are scared to use the Assam road and therefore appeal to the state government to repair the Hime-Likabali road immediately. This will help us a lot," she added.

The mob from Assam also allegedly destroyed shops belonging to Hime villagers.

"My shop and godown were not only destroyed but also looted. Items worth Rs 6 lakh, along with cash, were looted. I appeal to the Assam and Arunachal governments to extend help to me as it was my only source of income," said Bomter Nake.

The villagers have also appealed to senior officials of the Arunachal government to visit the village.

"Senior Assam ministers Ranoj Pegu and Atul Bora visited the Assam side and extended support to their people. But it is going to be almost a week, and so far no minister or senior official from Arunachal Pradesh has visited our village to understand our situation. This is painful," another villager said.

As the 48-hour deadline nears, the people of Hime are anxiously waiting and remain hopeful that the situation will return to normal soon.

"We have shared good relations with neighbouring Mising villages on the Assam side. We celebrate festivals together and sometimes even help each other financially. But some outsiders are trying to disturb the peace in the area. We appeal to our Mising brothers not to allow such individuals to destroy our friendship of so many decades," a Hime resident said.

"Senior Assam ministers Ranoj Pegu and Atul Bora visited the Assam side and extended support to their people. But it is going to be almost a week, and so far no minister or senior official from Arunachal Pradesh has visited our village to understand our situation. This is painful," another villager said.