Members of the Nah tribal community in Arunachal Pradesh’s Upper Subansiri district have alleged that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has gradually occupied parts of their ancestral grazing, hunting and agricultural lands along the India-China border over the past six years.
In a memorandum submitted to Upper Subansiri Deputy Commissioner Gambo Tasso, the Nah Welfare Society (NWS) claimed that several traditionally used areas within the Taksing revenue circle are now under Chinese control and alleged that the PLA has built roads and military camps in what the organisation describes as Indian territory.
NWS President Keru Chader urged authorities to intervene, saying the community is “losing our land inch by inch”. Nacho MLA Nakap Nalo called for official verification of the claims, stressing that the issue concerns national security and should be confirmed by the administration before any conclusions are drawn.
At the time of reporting, neither the district administration nor the Arunachal Pradesh government had issued an official response, leaving the allegations unverified.
Community Raises Border Concerns
The Nah Welfare Society has expressed growing concern over what it describes as increasing Chinese activity along the remote Taksing sector of Upper Subansiri district, one of Arunachal Pradesh’s frontier regions bordering Tibet.
In its memorandum, the organisation alleged that Chinese forces have progressively expanded their presence over the last 10 to 15 years, with several areas that remained under the tribe’s traditional use until around 2020 now allegedly inaccessible due to PLA occupation.
According to the memorandum, the affected locations include Oying in the Asaphila area, Paniar (Chujarta), Marpan (Marnafe), Potrang Lake and Tindingtang (TG).
These places, the organisation said, are not only vital for cattle grazing, hunting and collecting forest produce but also hold cultural and spiritual significance, with some regarded as pilgrimage sites by local residents.
“Our ancestral lands, which were our hunting areas where we freely roamed and collected forest products a few years back, and our cattle grazing areas are now under the occupation of the Chinese PLA,” NWS President Keru Chader stated in the memorandum.
The organisation further alleged that the PLA has constructed roads and military camps in areas it considers to be on the Indian side of the border. Chader, however, clarified that the community continues to have faith in the Indian Armed Forces, while expressing concern that the pace of the alleged Chinese activities has become “very alarming”.
“We do not doubt our Army and always have faith in them. They have been guarding our land for many years, but their efforts are not enough. The intention and speed of the present activities of the Chinese PLA at the Taksing area is very alarming and a matter of grave concern for us. We are losing our land inch by inch day by day to them,” he wrote.
Verification Yet to Come
The allegations have drawn attention because they concern a strategically sensitive stretch of the India-China frontier, where differing perceptions of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) have long resulted in competing territorial claims and periodic face-offs. However, as of now, the claims made by the Nah Welfare Society remain unverified by the authorities.
Nacho MLA Nakap Nalo acknowledged the seriousness of the matter but urged caution, saying the allegations require official confirmation before they can be treated as established facts. “The allegations need to be officially confirmed by the administration,” Nalo said, adding that there are “obvious concerns” because it is a matter of national importance.
Neither the Upper Subansiri district administration nor the Arunachal Pradesh government had issued an official statement in response to the memorandum at the time of reporting. Senior district officials, including Deputy Commissioner Gambo Tasso, were also unavailable for comment.
The absence of an official response means there is currently no independent verification of the locations identified by the tribal organisation or of its allegations regarding infrastructure development by the PLA.
The development comes amid continuing sensitivity along the India-China border, particularly in Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing claims as part of what it refers to as “South Tibet” a claim India has consistently and firmly rejected, maintaining that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of the country.
Border infrastructure development and reports of transgressions have remained recurring issues in recent years, making local accounts from frontier communities particularly significant while also requiring careful official verification.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The concerns raised by the Nah tribal community highlight the often-overlooked realities faced by people living in India’s remote border regions, where questions of security are deeply intertwined with livelihoods, culture and identity. At the same time, allegations involving international borders and military activity demand rigorous verification, responsible reporting and transparent communication from the authorities.
Timely official engagement can help address local anxieties, clarify facts and reinforce public confidence, while ensuring that genuine concerns of frontier communities are neither dismissed nor amplified without evidence. Protecting the interests of border residents requires both national security preparedness and sustained dialogue with those who live closest to these sensitive frontiers.
Also read: Pune Court Convicts 65-Year-Old for Three-Year-Old’s Rape, Murder After 55-Day Fast-Track Trial
