Arunachal: Itanagar witnesses 24-hour bandh called by indigenous youth body over alleged illegal structures

Itanagar in Arunachal witnessed a 24-hour bandh on Thursday, May 28 following a shutdown call by the Arunachal Pradesh Indigenous Youth Organisation (APIYO) over alleged illegal structures, including mosques, in parts of the state capital region.

The bandh, scheduled from 5:00 AM on May 28 to 5:00 AM on May 29, was called by the organisation to press for action against what it described as illegal constructions and the alleged presence of undocumented migrants in the state.

The District Magistrate of Capital Itanagar declared the bandh “illegal and unlawful” under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, citing Supreme Court directives against forced shutdowns. Authorities said strict legal action would be taken against anyone attempting to enforce the bandh through intimidation, road blockades, or disruption of public services.

Heavy security deployment was carried out across sensitive locations in the capital region, including Itanagar, Naharlagun, and Nirjuli, to maintain law and order. Police also apprehended several key organisers linked to the bandh as a preventive measure.

The bandh coincided with Eid celebrations, a gazetted public holiday during which government offices, banks, and financial institutions remain closed across the country. The timing of the protest drew criticism from several quarters, with allegations that the shutdown indirectly targeted a particular religious community observing the festival.

However, APIYO president Taro Sonam Liyak denied allegations of religious targeting. Speaking to the media, he stated that the organisation’s campaign against alleged illegal Bangladeshi migrants in Arunachal Pradesh had been ongoing since 2023 and was aimed at protecting the demographic interests of indigenous communities.

“Our campaign to identify and deport alleged illegal Bangladeshi migrants began in 2023. We raised concerns regarding the legality of mosques and madrasas in areas such as the Nirjuli-Naharlagun belt and issued ultimatums to the government, but no action was taken. This compelled us to call for the bandh,” Liyak said.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) Tumme Amo appealed to the public to reject what he described as “bandh culture” and continue normal activities under police protection.

“Bandh calls hamper day-to-day life and affect the development of the state. The issues raised by the organisation may be genuine, but there are democratic methods available to convey such concerns to the government instead of resorting to shutdowns,” Amo said.

He further stated that the state government under Chief Minister Pema Khandu had recently held an inclusive meeting with community-based organisations, student bodies, public representatives, and civil society groups to discuss concerns related to illegal immigration and the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system.

According to Amo, the government assured stakeholders that a dedicated department would be constituted for more effective management of the ILP mechanism aimed at safeguarding indigenous interests.

“At a time when the country is observing Eid, targeting any one religion is unfortunate. India is a secular nation that respects all religions,” the senior police officer added.

The bandh comes shortly after a 36-hour shutdown called earlier this month by the Scheduled Tribe Bachao Andolan Committee, which had led to incidents of road blockades and violence in parts of the capital region.

As of Thursday evening, police confirmed that no incidents of violence had been reported during the ongoing bandh, and security personnel remained deployed in vulnerable areas as a precautionary measure.