Arunachal: Pasighat bandh sees full shutdown despite being declared illegal

A 12-hour bandh called by the All Bogong Students’ Union (ABSU) in Pasighat, the headquarters of East Siang district, led to a complete shutdown on Friday. Markets, government offices, and educational institutions remained closed despite the district administration deeming the bandh illegal and directing establishments to remain open.

 

With roads deserted and businesses shuttered, the bandh saw near-total compliance. Only a few government offices, including those of the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police, were open, but attendance was minimal. ABSU members and supporters stationed themselves at key locations across the town to enforce the bandh, while police personnel were deployed in sensitive areas to prevent any disruption or damage to public property.

 

ABSU President Siang Moyong, speaking to the media at Radio Station Char-Ali near the DC/SP office, claimed success for the bandh. “We have been demanding the district administration and state government to fulfill our basic and legitimate demands since last year, but they did not budge. This led to the enforcement of a 12-hour bandh in Pasighat. If the government fails to fulfill our pending demands, we will proceed with a second phase, this time a 24-hour bandh,” Moyong warned.

 

One of the primary concerns raised by ABSU is illegal encroachment on land historically donated by the Bogong Banggo community. “Bogong Banggo has been the land donor of Pasighat since the NEFA and British days, yet several government-owned plots are now being illegally occupied by officials and the public despite eviction orders from the district administration. We demand immediate action,” Moyong stated.

 

Meanwhile, Pasighat East MLA Tapi Darang clarified that funds for the renovation of Balek Road, another issue raised by ABSU, had already been sanctioned by the government.

 

ABSU’s key demands include renaming the Government GNM School of Nursing as Lt. Tagoli Jamoh Memorial School of Nursing, renaming the Government Polytechnic College as Lt. Kuttik Moyong Memorial Polytechnic College, inclusion of a Bogong Banggo Kebang member in the District Land Allotment Committee, ensuring that newly constructed buildings at Pasighat Market remain under local fund management with BBK representation in the allotment process, and the eviction of illegal encroachments at GTC Secondary School, Upper Primary School Paglek, and IGJ Government Higher Secondary School Pasighat.

 

ABSU General Secretary Gambo Tamin urged authorities to address their demands, emphasising the contributions of the Bogong Banggo villages in establishing Pasighat, the oldest town in the state. Earlier in the day, tensions flared when ABSU members, led by Tamin, attempted to march toward the DC/SP office after a general meeting at Mirku Secondary School field, leading to a minor confrontation with the police.

 

The bandh concluded without any major incidents, but with ABSU threatening an escalated protest if their demands are not met, tensions in Pasighat remain high.