Arunachalees unhappy with slow Army mobilisation to rescue CM Khandu

Itanagar, May 03 (ANI): Even after 72hours, there is no trace of the four-seater single engine Pawan Hans chopper that went missing while on way from Tawang to Itanagar with Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu and four others on board.

Though the search is being focused at Nagarjii in the rugged hilly and snow-clad terrains at 13,700 feet under Dirang circle of West Kameng district on the basis of imageries of ISRO and Sukhoi aircrafts, but it is a known fact that such imageries have proved futile in tracking the Bell 430 chopper that crashed with then Andhra Pradesh Chief

Minister YSR Reddy and four others on September 2, 2009 after hitting the cliff of a hillock in the dense Nallamalla forest.

Meanwhile, a high level team headed by Lok Sabha member Takam Sanjoy, HRD Minister Takar Marde, DIGP (Intelligence) Anil Sukhla, which had left yesterday to monitor the rescue and search operations, has set up a control room at Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) office at Dirang.

Taking to ANI today, Sanjoy expressed resentment at the mobilization of forces by the Army and said that he had registered his protest with Defence Minister A K Antony and Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar, requesting them to issue directive accordingly.

Sanjoy said the locals have expressed their satisfaction at the efforts of the ITBP personnel, but have taken serious exception of the half-hearted attitude of the Army and SSB, and added that he spoke to SSB Director General YS Dadwal, asking him to post officers, including a commandant, immediately as the organization has a better presence in the area.

The team during its review meeting this morning was informed that a Pawan Hans chopper was stationed at Dirang and two IAF helicopters each at Tezpur and Guwahati to assist in the operation subject to good weather condition. There are 50 commands at the disposal of the team, he said.

Asked about the Sukhoi image detecting 'aircraft-like object' in Bhutan, Sanjoy disclosed that the Army with the help of Royal Bhutan Army personnel have been continuing their massive search operation as confirmed by Indian Ambassador in Bhutan, Pavan Varma today.

Taking serious exception of the poor telecommunication services in the area, Sanjoy asked the state's BSNL general manager Shyam Narayan to improve the system at the earliest.

While the people of the state have been waiting with betted breath for any concrete information about their Chief Minister, a senior citizen who was witness to the 1962 Chienese aggression wondered how could no Army personnel see or hear about the chopper despite Tawang and West Kaemng districts having so many Army establishments.

The crisis management committee is meeting twice daily with central ministers V Narayansamy and Mukul Wasnik constantly monitoring the situation.

APCC president Nabam Tuki today said that the entire efforts of the state and central government is aimed at getting concrete information about the safe return of the Chief Minister. (ANI)