Legal dispute over Durpai boundary construction raises concerns

The Durpai Boundary Committee in Lower Siang district has called on the Arunachal Pradesh government to immediately halt the boundary construction around Durpai village, citing an ongoing legal dispute between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh pending before the Supreme Court.

In a representation submitted to Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Monday, the committee condemned the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Assam and Arunachal on April 20, 2023, calling it “arbitrary and illegal.” The MoU, which impacts 123 villages, including Durpai, allegedly landlocks the village and transfers its surrounding land to Assam.

“The villagers’ fundamental rights have been ignored in this agreement, as the MoU was executed without their consent,” the committee said, urging the government to intervene until the Supreme Court resolves the issue. The boundary dispute continues to create tension, and the committee fears Durpai may become isolated under Assam’s jurisdiction.