China help sought in copter rescue

Itanagar: With four days of search for the missing Pawan Hans chopper with Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Dorjee Khandu and four others on board drawing a blank, a section of apparently agitated groups and individuals today went to the extent of suggesting that the Centre seek China’s help as it was a “matter of life and death”.
Among those to have sought Chinese help was Takam Tatung, the president of the influential All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union. “Now that our technology and effort so far have failed, we should seek Chinese help as a neighbour to locate the chief minister and the others with him. The Centre should also paradrop troops in the shortlisted locations,” Tatung said.
Fear of the possibility of having lost a man whom local residents described as “very amiable and helpful” is giving way to anger, feel those tracking the developments since the disappearance of the chopper soon after taking off from Tawang with five persons on board on Saturday morning.
China and Arunachal Pradesh share a 1,080-km border with the former claiming the frontier state as its own. China and India even fought a bitter war in 1962 and still bicker over the frontier state.
Even a member of the ruling Congress made similar demand, summing up the mood among the locals. “We are not blaming the Centre but isn’t it shameful that we have not been able to locate the chopper and our beloved chief minister even after four days? Since it is a matter of life and death, we do not see why we cannot seek help from other countries, including China. It is about time,” Likha Maj, a member of Arunachal PCC, said.
“India claims to be prepared to face any eventuality in this sensitive frontier state but that has not been reflected in this case. Simply blaming the weather and terrain will not help matters. Will India say the same thing if China attacks us? If we cannot locate a chief minister, what will be the fate of the common man?” The chairperson of Arunachal Citizens’ Rights, Maj. Bamang Tago said.
“Personally, I do not see any harm in seeking help from any country, including China, in such situations. Nothing wrong, we will support it,” said Toko Teki, the general secretary of Arunachal Pradesh Christian Forum.
04/05/11 Umanand Jaiswal/The Telegraph

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Categories: Foreign May 2011, Indian Aviation- In General May 2011, Safety May 2011