ITANAGAR: The Chakma Development Foundation of India (CDFI) has approached the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), seeking intervention after Chakma voters were allegedly prevented from attending hearings related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bordumsa, Changlang district, on September 4.
The development came amid protests by members of the All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union (AAPSU), which resulted in the postponement of the hearing. The office of the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) was also damaged during the unrest.
The hearing had also been disrupted on Thursday. According to the CDFI, the ERO could hear only 222 of 252 Form 6 applications, while 150 of 303 applications were taken up before proceedings were halted following violence.
CDFI chairman Suhas Chakma said the recurrence of violence raised concerns over the safety of Chakma and Hajong communities during the electoral revision process. He alleged that the state government had failed to prevent the situation from escalating into violence and stone-pelting.
The CDFI has urged the NHRC to enforce the Supreme Court’s 1996 judgment in National Human Rights Commission v State of Arunachal Pradesh, which directed the state government to protect the life and personal liberty of Chakmas residing in Arunachal Pradesh.
The organisation said the judgment required the state to prevent attempts to forcibly evict or drive Chakmas out of the state and, where necessary, deploy police or paramilitary forces to protect them.
Citing violence reported on September 3 and 4, the CDFI said the security situation posed a serious threat to Chakmas and Hajongs during upcoming SIR hearings. It sought directions to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, Arunachal Pradesh government and Election Commission of India to ensure the safety and protection of Chakma and Hajong voters throughout the electoral revision process.
