Itanagar, November 12, 2025 — The Arunachal Pradesh government on Wednesday announced the suspension of four officials and recommended disciplinary action against the East Kameng deputy commissioner following the uncovering of a large-scale land compensation scam related to the Frontier Highway project. The move comes after a fact-finding committee (FFC) revealed extensive irregularities in the assessment and disbursement of compensation for land acquired along the Lada–Sarli stretch of the ambitious highway initiative.

The committee’s investigation found that non-existent assets were fraudulently assessed for compensation, legitimate valuations were ignored, and wrongful awards were issued to dubious claimants. The controversial section of the Frontier Highway spans 125.55 kilometers, and the irregularities in compensation have raised serious concerns about transparency and governance in the land acquisition process.

The officials placed under suspension include Divisional Forest Officer Abhinav Kumar, District Agriculture Officer Miram Perme, District Horticulture Officer C.K. Tayum, and District Land Revenue & Settlement Officer Takam Kechak. Additionally, the government has recommended that the Ministry of Home Affairs consider suspending Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Nigam, who chaired the Ground Verification Board (GVB) responsible for approving the contentious awards.

The FFC, led by the Commissioner and comprising senior officials from the Public Works Department (PWD), Land Management, Forest, Agriculture, Horticulture, and Fisheries departments, was constituted on August 13, 2025, in response to complaints from affected landowners. The complaints alleged that no proper ground verification was conducted, that genuine claimants were excluded from compensation, and that disproportionate payments were made to fictitious beneficiaries.

The committee’s interim report, submitted on November 4, corroborated the complaints, highlighting serious omissions and commissions by the verification team. The report described gross anomalies in the verification process and detailed fraudulent assessment practices that had allowed non-existent claimants to receive compensation. The FFC has been granted additional time until November 30 to submit its final report.

The revelations have sparked widespread outrage among local communities and civil society organizations, who accused the administration of betraying public trust and diverting funds intended for genuine landowners. Social media has seen a surge in calls for a transparent investigation and strict punitive action against all those responsible for the fraudulent disbursements. Civil society groups have also urged the government to ensure recovery of public funds that were illegally released under the flawed compensation process.

In an official order signed by A.K. Singh, Secretary of the Land Management Department, the government emphasized the seriousness of the findings and confirmed that the suspended officials would remain so pending the completion of the final investigation. The move is intended to signal the administration’s commitment to accountability and restore confidence in public institutions tasked with overseeing land acquisition and compensation.

The Frontier Highway, part of India’s broader border infrastructure development initiative, has faced multiple challenges in recent years, including land disputes, environmental clearances, and compensation controversies. The Lada–Sarli segment, in particular, has been mired in disputes with local communities, who contend that the acquisition process has been opaque and unfair. The suspension of the officials is expected to send a strong message about adherence to legal and ethical standards in land acquisition for national projects.

Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Nigam, as chair of the Ground Verification Board, has come under scrutiny for approving the awards despite glaring discrepancies. If the MHA approves the suspension recommendation, it would mark a significant step toward accountability at the senior bureaucratic level.

The government has reiterated its commitment to ensuring that the Frontier Highway project progresses in a manner that balances strategic development objectives with the rights of local communities. Officials have assured that the final report of the fact-finding committee will be acted upon decisively, with measures taken to rectify fraudulent payments and prevent such irregularities in the future.

Local organizations and landowners have welcomed the suspensions but continue to demand full transparency in the final investigation and recovery of all public funds misappropriated in the process. The ongoing probe is being closely monitored, as it has implications not only for the Frontier Highway project but also for governance standards in large-scale infrastructure projects across the northeastern region.

The Frontier Highway forms a crucial part of India’s border infrastructure plans, aimed at enhancing connectivity along the country’s sensitive northern frontier. The project is expected to boost strategic mobility, regional trade, and economic development. However, the ongoing land acquisition controversies highlight the challenges of balancing developmental priorities with community rights and governance accountability.

The government’s prompt action in suspending the implicated officials and recommending disciplinary action against the deputy commissioner demonstrates its recognition of these challenges and its intent to maintain the credibility of public administration. The final fact-finding report, expected by the end of November, is anticipated to provide a comprehensive account of the irregularities and recommend corrective actions to safeguard public resources and ensure justice for affected landowners.