Itanagar bandh: ANSU shutdown disrupts normal life despite administration declaring it illegal

Normal life was disrupted in Arunachal Pradesh’s Itanagar Capital Region on Thursday, September 24 as the All Nyishi Students’ Union (ANSU) enforced a 12-hour bandh over a set of education-related demands, despite the district administration declaring the shutdown illegal.

The bandh was observed from 5 am to 5 pm. Reports from Itanagar indicated that vehicular movement was largely affected, with emergency services exempted from the shutdown. Youths and bandh supporters were reported to have stopped vehicles at several locations.

The administration had declared the bandh unlawful under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), citing concerns over public safety, disruption of livelihoods and possible law-and-order issues. The order also directed the organisers to withdraw the bandh and warned of action for violations.

Security personnel were deployed at sensitive locations, including Chimpu and areas near the state Secretariat. Reports also indicated instances of face-offs and roadblocks during the bandh, while an incident involving a vehicle catching fire was reported. Further details on the circumstances surrounding the fire were not immediately available.

Itanagar Capital Region Superintendent of Police Jummar Basar appealed to youths and bandh supporters to refrain from violence and maintain peace.

ANSU had called the shutdown over education-related issues, including the renovation and upgradation of 56 identified schools, establishment of a dedicated school for children with special needs in Pakke Kessang, and issues concerning Toru Engineering College and Late Neelam Taram Government College.

The bandh call followed discussions between ANSU representatives and the state government over the demands. Education Minister Pasang Dorjee Sona had urged the student body to reconsider the shutdown and said the government had initiated steps on several of the issues raised by the organisation.

According to the Education Department's action-taken report presented during the discussions, several infrastructure proposals had already been submitted to the Planning Department. The government said more than half of 26 identified infrastructure requirements were either ready or at an advanced stage of implementation, while the remaining demands would be examined based on funding and other considerations.