Itanagar, May 28: A 24-hour bandh called by the Arunachal Pradesh Indigenous Youth Organisation (APIYO) was observed across Itanagar on May 28 over allegations relating to illegal structures, including mosques, and the alleged presence of undocumented migrants in parts of the state capital region.
The shutdown, which began at 5:00 am on May 28 and is scheduled to continue until 5:00 am on May 29, was called by the organisation to demand government action against what it described as illegal constructions in the capital belt.
The administration declared the bandh “illegal and unlawful” under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023. The District Magistrate of Capital Itanagar cited Supreme Court directives opposing forced shutdowns and warned of strict legal action against anyone attempting to enforce the bandh through intimidation, road blockades or disruption of essential services.
Security was tightened across sensitive areas of Itanagar, Naharlagun and Nirjuli, with heavy police deployment to maintain law and order. Authorities also detained several key organisers associated with the bandh as a preventive measure.
The protest coincided with Eid celebrations, which drew criticism from different quarters amid allegations that the shutdown indirectly targeted a particular religious community observing the festival.
Rejecting such allegations, APIYO president Taro Sonam Liyak said the organisation’s campaign against alleged illegal Bangladeshi migrants in Arunachal Pradesh had been ongoing since 2023 and was focused on protecting the demographic interests of indigenous communities.
He stated that the organisation had earlier raised concerns regarding the legality of mosques and madrasas in the Nirjuli-Naharlagun belt and had issued ultimatums to the government, but claimed no action was taken, leading to the bandh call.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Tumme Amo appealed to the public to reject “bandh culture” and continue normal activities under police protection. He said while the concerns raised by the organisation could be genuine, democratic means should be used to communicate issues instead of disrupting public life.
Amo also referred to a recent meeting convened by the Arunachal Pradesh government under Chief Minister Pema Khandu with community organisations, student bodies, public representatives and civil society groups to discuss illegal immigration and the Inner Line Permit system.
According to the police officer, the government had assured stakeholders that a dedicated department would be created to strengthen the implementation and management of the ILP mechanism for safeguarding indigenous interests.
He further stated that targeting any religion during Eid was unfortunate and emphasised that India remained a secular nation that respected all faiths.
The bandh comes days after a separate 36-hour shutdown organised by the Scheduled Tribe Bachao Andolan Committee earlier this month, which had witnessed incidents of violence and road blockades in parts of the capital region.
Police said no untoward incidents had been reported during the bandh till Thursday evening, although security personnel continued to remain deployed in vulnerable areas as a precautionary measure.
