[ Prafulla Kaman ]

RUKSIN, 2 Jun: The descendants of late Eda Moyong alias Ada Moyong have expressed concern that the state government is yet to take any step to recognise late public interpreter (PI) Eda Moyong, who sacrificed his life for the country.

Petitioner Orik Moyong of Debing village in East Siang district lamented that the state government is not paying keen attention to their demand, keeping the issue pending for the last one decade.

Moyong and his family members alleged that the state government functionaries, even after repeated approaches, are not processing the file works pertaining to declaration of late PI Eda Moyong as a martyr.

It may be recalled that the East Siang DC, following an instruction from the state government, collected all required information about late Moyong and submitted a verification report in April 2023. But the official process for forwarding the proposal to the central government in this regard is still pending in the state’s Home Department, “for reasons best known to the government officials,” the descendants said.

Born in 1910, Eda Moyong @ Ada Moyong had grown up in Adi Pasi village in the present Upper Siang district. He had joined the PI service in 1945 and discharged his duty till his death. He died in Tuting near the India-China border during the Chinese aggression while leading an Assam Rifles troop deployed at the border.

Records available with the 56 Artillery Brigade of the Indian Army stationed in Sigar (Mebo) in East Siang district reveal that PI Eda Moyong was posted to Tuting in 1957. He played a crucial role, assisting in the construction of a strategic helipad near the border during the India-China war in 1962.

As per Army reports, late Moyong sacrificed his life for the country but formal recognition for his bravery and contribution has not been granted by the government.

The petitioner said that he personally approached Arunachal East MP Tapir Gao and all MLAs of East Siang district and even Chief Minister Pema Khandu “regarding the martyr demand issue from time to time, but nothing has come to fruition so far.”

The petitioner submitted a fresh petition to Home Commissioner Nyali Ete at his office chamber in Itanagar on Monday, requesting him to “take a fruitful initiative to recognise late PI Eda Moyong as a martyr of the land.”