Chinese army trangressed Arunachal’s border twice last month:

Rijiju Pasighat, Aug 19 (PTI) Union Minister of State for HomeKiren Rijiju today said that the Chinese army had transgressedthe border of Arunachal Pradesh on two occasions last month,but these could not be described as incursion. "We cannot term it as incursion, but transgression, asthe Chinese army just crossed the perceived area along theLine of Actual Control," he told reporters here afterinaugurating the Pasighat Advance Landing Ground (ALG) in thenortheastern state. Rijiju said one incident was reported from Kibithu area inremote Anjaw district on July 22 and another at Thangsa inTawang district during the month. He said when the matter was reported from Kibithu by ITBP,the Centre verified it and found that it was only an act oftransgression. The ALG will allow fighter aircraft like Su 30 MKI toland and take off in a major fillip to India’s militarycapabilities along its border with China. On government’s efforts to match China’s infrastructuredevelopment across the border, Rijiju said that the Centre hadalready started strengthening the infrastructure and the ALGat Pasighat was a major step in this direction. "We are not challenging or competing with any othercountry by strengthening our border infrastructure. We willhave to build robust infrastructure to strengthen our defenceand whatever we have done is because India is an emergingpower with capability. "So IAF should have operational bases in all the borderingstates," he said, noting that the Centre attaches priority todevelopment of border infrastructure. Asked about the proposed ALG at Tawang, the minister saidan area had been identified between Tawang and Lumla at analtitude of 11,000 feet and at that height, such a ruggedterrain was very challenging. "We will have to see whether the site is feasible orotherwise we will have to look for an alternative place," hesaid. To a question about some leaders of insurgent outfits fromthe northeast taking shelter in Myanmar, Rijiju said thatIndia has requested Myanmar to take action against theinsurgent groups taking shelter in that country. "There are reports of some leaders of insurgent outfitsfrom the northeast taking shelter in Myanmar and we are inconstant talks with the government of that country requestingit to take action against them," the minister said. PTI UPLSUN MD SCSC