Pangsau Pass (Indo-Myanmar border), Feb. 2: A retired soldier of the Myanmarese army has become the vital link between troops deployed on either side of the Indo-Myanmar border.
Fifty-year-old Chettry Kalu, who retired from service a few years back, has been recruited afresh by the Myanmar army for a special assignment that requires his expertise in languages.
Being a Nepali, Chettry is well versed in Hindi while his stint with the army has given him a working knowledge of various Myanmarese dialects. The retired soldier?s proficiency in languages is now being put to use by the Myanmarese army to remain in touch with Indian troops on the other side of the border.
Chettry, who stays in a hut with his wife, five sons and their families, told The Telegraph that he was happy to play a part in maintaining relations between Myanmarese and Indian troops.
?The Indian army steps in whenever the Myanmarese troops require help, especially medical aid,? he said.
The last post of the Indian army on the Indo-Myanmar border is at Nampong, a small town in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh. A unit of the 7 Assam Rifles, which is under the army?s 2 Mountain Division, mans the post.
The Pangsau Pass, which is a part of the historic Stilwell Road, is just 12 km from Nampong. Myanmarese soldiers have to trek long distances to reach one post from another, which leads to casualties at times. Chettry, who knows what it is like to be part of a unit deployed on the border, said the Myanmarese army would have found the situation tougher to handle had the Indian armed forces not been benevolent.
?Soldiers often take ill because of the gruelling treks. Many would not survive if the Indian troops were to turn their backs on them.?
The Indian army has even arranged for a telephone connection for communication between its post at Nampong and the Myanmarese army?s base at Pangsau, which is a few metres ahead of the mysterious ?Lake of no return?.
Chettry was tight-lipped about the movements of militants along the border, focusing instead on the bonhomie between the troops on either side of the dividing line.
?The Indian and Myanmarese armies have set up a market that opens once every fortnight. People from both sides of the border purchase essential commodities there. Myanmarese villagers usually buy salt, pulses and mustard oil and sell chicken, masala and vegetables,? he said.