Himalayan Times (1962)

December 23, 1962

Himalayan Times

Three

TRICOLOUR GOES UP IN BOMDILA

Warm Welcome For Indian Officials

Tezpur, December 17

It was a touching
scene when the Indian
tricolour was unfurlfd
early this morning in
Bomdila, marking the for-
mal moving in of the
civil administration to the
headquarters of t! e Ka-
meng division of NEEA.

Local leaders delivered
speeches condemning the
Chinese aggression end
expressing great joy at
the resumption of admi-
nistration by Indian offi-
cials.

Soon after the party's
arrival at Bumdila yester
day afternoon, tribal men
and 'women surrounded
them and shouted Jai
Hind.

Tb« civil cdmiidstra-
tion staff this morning
reopened the hospital,
post ofSee and other offi-
ces.

According to an offi-
cial report received here
this tvening, Buildings at
Bomdila have not been
damaged but articles have
either been destroyed or
removed. Relief work
has begun. Yesterday
when the political officer
of Bomdila. Mr. Johri,
left Tezpur he carried
with him as much sup-
plies as be could. The

main administrative prob-
lem for days to come will
inevitably be the despatoh
of supplies to Bomdila,
not only for the local
population but for officials
as well

'lhough not quit« un-
expected the warmth of
the reception NEFA offi.
cials received in the Ka-
meng division, inhabited
moBtly by Monpa and
Dada tribesmen, has given
much satisfaction.

The speeches made
by the tribal ohieftains
and the enthusiastic wel-
come aooorded by them
to th^ administrative per-
sonnel disproved the Chi-
nese claim repeatedly
broadcast by Peking Ra-
dio that the tribal po-
pulation had been giving
them a friendly farewell
at the time of their with-
drawal. AH along the
70-mile route, from Foot-
hills to Bomdila. the party
found roads and hamlets
deserted. Many of the
people had run away
the plains while others
had taken refuge in hide-
outs.

The party met only
two groups of people on
the way. Both the groups
were rejoicing at the sight

of their own pecple and
said they had decidtd Dot
to return to their Tillages
as long as the Chinese
occupied the area. Even
the tribal chieiUino who
had come down to Bom-
dila to woloome the NEFA
officers had been hiding
until the Chinese with-
drew from the area.

The entire route was
strewn with evidence of
Chinese cruelty against th'j
local population which had
left their garments, foot-
wear, utensils and other
bologings on the road
while running away from
the Chinese.

Chaku, where tits
Chinese fought their last
battle in November, pre-
sented a ghastly speotacle.
Huti in the area were
damaged by Chinese shel-
ling Clothing and other
articles lay scattered on
the road. A large num-
ber of oivilian vehioles lay
abandoned on the road-
side with flat tyres and
windscreens and sidea rid-
dled with bullets. Steel
trunks lay heaped on the
road but they were all
empty indicating that the
Chinese had been looting
tli- tribesmen escaping
to the plains. The Chi-
neso had also made bon-
fires of supplies in villages
after taking their require-
ments.

Bcmdila town itself
presented a deserted look
(Contmued on page Z)