On November 18, 2018, a search operation was conducted by the security forces in Longkjon, Longding District of Arunachal Pradesh following the inputs received from an apprehended insurgent regarding the presence of “war-like stores” in three houses in village Longkhjon.
Soon after the incident, there were allegations that the army personnel had treated the villagers violently. Many news portals have also reported about the alleged violence. They stated that several villagers had complained to the Extra Assistant Commissioner (EAC) and the EAC has written to the district commissioner in Longding regarding the complaints.
The reports had claimed quoting the EAC report that an army search operation on the night of November 18 had left several people injured. It had also stated that a local pastor was also injured during the incident. The report went on to say that the army personnel forced the village head and pastor to sign blank papers, and gave the injured a strip of painkillers.
The media reports also included that twenty-three persons were allegedly detained in the general ground the whole cold night without food, water and warm clothes.
On 21 November, Ninong Ering, the Congress MP from Arunachal East constituency had shared on Twitter a letter he had written to the PM regarding the alleged incident.
https://twitter.com/ninong_erring/status/1065168725517582336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
However, the Minister of State for Defence, Dr Subash Bhamre on Wednesday in his written reply in Lok Sabha to Congress MP Ninong Ering’s question regarding the incident has completely rejected the allegations and clarified that there were no such complaints from the villagers against the armed forces.
“Based on certain allegations regarding misbehaviour and harassment, the
incident was inquired into and the villagers have confirmed that there are no
complaints against the Army” replied MoS Bhamre.
He further said that the search operation was conducted in accordance with the laid down procedures, causing no undue harassment of the locals. He added that after the search operation, the army personnel has received a ‘No objection certificate’ was from
the village elders dismissing the false claims of the media that villagers had raised a complaint regarding the violence on them.
MoS Bhamre replying to Ninong Ering’s question regarding the continuation of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) said that there is no proposal under consideration to discontinue the AFSPA in the area of Tirap, Changlang and Longding area of Arunachal Pradesh.