The Failed Land Compensation Scam in Arunachal Pradesh

The BJP government in Arunachal Pradesh may appear to be cracking down on corrupt practices following the arrest of two government officials and a businessman in Arunachal Pradesh for allegedly masterminding a land compensation scam on the Rs. 40 crore Joram to Koloriang stretch of the Trans-Arunachal Highway (TAH). However, the entire process has been murky right from the start, when various civil society groups began alleging a scam was being orchestrated. 

On Tuesday, the former Lower Subansiri Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kemo Lollen, businessman Likha Maj, and  District Land Revenue and Settlement Officer (DLRSO) of Lower Subansiri Bharat Lingu were arrested by the Special Investigation Cell in connection with the discrepancies in land compensation along the Joram – Koloriang stretch of the TAH. However, the agitations regarding the discrepancies had begun much earlier. 

On June 6, an editorial in the Arunachal Times alleged that documents obtained under the Right to Information Act showed that there were massive discrepancies in awarding compensation money. It was also alleged that the rich and influential had “managed to get more compensation than the ordinary citizens”. The same day the All Lower Subansiri District Students' Union demanded that the former DC, as well as the DLRSO and all the fake beneficiaries, be arrested and that the Central Bureau of Investigation takes charge of the matter.

On June 7, the Chairman of the Land Affected Justice Forum (20 KM – 50 KM Joram – Koloriang Road), Likha Tongum accused the former DC, DLRSO and a Junior Engineer Kabak Bath of corrupt collusion with certain individuals to dupe the genuinely affected persons. He further alleged that they had connived with a 'bogus committee' called Land Affected People's Forum (LAPF) to declare a shutdown to prevent the DS's transfer in order to continue their nefarious dealings. Among the many names that were displayed as examples of corruption was the name of the Member of the Legislative Assembly from Yachuli, Likha Saaya. However, the forum claimed that he was being falsely implicated and the real culprit was actually Likha Saaya's relative, Likha Maj. They claimed that Likha Maj had created bogus beneficiaries by giving his surname to his driver and other persons who did not own land let alone come from Arunachal Pradesh. Toko Tei, the secretary of the forum alleged that Likha Maj's driver was represented as 'Likha Pappu' and received  Rs 27.12 lakh. He also alleged that Likha Maj's two managers received Rs 31,52,400 and Rs 34, 29, 200 as Likha Ashok and Likha Govind respectively.

On June 10, the Land Affected People's Forum (LAPF) hit back alleging that all the documents being circulated on social media which pointed to Likha Maj's nefarious dealings were fabricated in order to malign his image. They further alleged that the forum, headed by Likha Tongum, was in fact created by Likha Saaya to sabotage the fact-finding committee constituted to investigate into the entire mess. The same day, a letter dated June 4, written by the former DC Kemo Lollen, addressed to the Chief Secretary of the state, was published. The letter requested security be provided to the former DC and DLRSO and their families. It was alleged that Likha Saaya and his family had been threatening and harassing them.

The next day, the All Nyishi Students' Union (ANSU) – one of the most powerful civil society organisations in Arunachal Pradesh – urged the chairman of the fact-finding committee to expedite the inquiry. They also appealed to the state government to release the compensation to all the genuine beneficiaries and withhold payments to those whose status was doubtful.

On June 13, the LAPF demanded that re-verification be conducted on the stretch between Joram and Koloriang without involving the district administration. It transpired that the very officials accused by the people of being parties to the scam were involved in the re-verification process to identify the genuine beneficiaries.
On June 14, Likha Saaya though his lawyer sent a legal notice to the Arunachal Times for publishing Lollen's letter. The notice allegedly demanded a compensatory payment of Rs 100 crore, the failure of which would result in a defamation suit of the same amount. He, later in a press conference, claimed that he had been misrepresented. This would make one wonder about the kind of lawyer  hired by a sitting MLA. Or whether his ‘lawyer' possessed a law degree at all. 

Following the arrests of the former DC, DLRSO and Likha Maj, the Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) on Wednesday claimed that those arrested had benefited under the patronage of the Deputy Chief Minister, Chowna Mein. They had carried out a survey of the area on July 1 and based on their findings alleged that one of the genuinely affected persons Bengia Tach was entitled to receive around Rs 34 lakh under the Detailed Project Report (DPR). Instead, he was offered half the amount. Another person, Joram Tabia who was entitled to receive around Rs. 20 lakh was instead offered Rs. 7,000. Neelam Meena who was entitled to receive around Rs. 11 lakh was instead offered Rs 2,000. These persons all refused to accept the compensation. However, the APCC pointed out that Likha Saaya's wife, Likha Api who was entitled to receive around Rs. 82.77 lakh was offered Rs. 20,000 higher than her entitled amount. The compensation finally paid was rounded off to Rs. 83 lakh.

Thus, though the arrests already effected in the scam are correct, it appears that certain names were conveniently 'left out'. Maybe the names were left out to avoid embarrassment to the BJP Government in Arunachal Pradesh. On the other hand, it can be argued that the person had contested on a Congress ticket and later defected to the BJP. However, that too can be said for almost the entirety of the BJP's strength in the legislative assembly of Arunachal Pradesh. When two civil society organisations made allegations against one another that they were being sponsored by rival camps in the scam, it would appear that there may be a grain of truth in both sets of allegations. What is clear, however, is that nobody in a position of power in the state seems to have 'clean hands'.