ITANAGAR : Normal life remained disrupted across the Itanagar Capital Region (ICR) on Thursday following a 24-hour bandh called by the Arunachal Pradesh Indigenous Youth Organisation (APIYO) over issues related to alleged illegal migrants and unauthorised structures in the state.
The shutdown, which began at 5 am on Thursday and is scheduled to continue till 5 am on May 29, affected vehicular movement, business establishments and routine public activities in several parts of the capital region, including Itanagar and Naharlagun.
APIYO stated that the bandh was called to press for action against allegedly illegal structures and suspected undocumented migrants residing in the state. The organisation claimed it has been raising the issue since 2023 as part of efforts to safeguard the demographic interests and indigenous identity of Arunachal Pradesh.
APIYO president Taro Sonam Liyak said the organisation had repeatedly urged the government to identify and deport alleged illegal Bangladeshi migrants and had also questioned the legality of certain mosques and madrasas in areas of the Nirjuli-Naharlagun belt.
“We have been asking the government to identify and deport alleged illegal Bangladeshi migrants. We have also been questioning the legality of mosques and madrasas in certain areas. The government’s inaction compelled us to call the shutdown,” he said.
The bandh coincided with Eid celebrations, drawing criticism from several quarters, with many alleging that the timing of the protest indirectly affected members of the Muslim community observing the festival.
Due to the shutdown, many families in the capital region reportedly remained indoors during the celebrations.
Rejecting allegations of targeting any particular religious community, APIYO maintained that the agitation was solely focused on issues related to illegal migration and demographic concerns.
Meanwhile, the Capital administration termed the bandh “illegal and unlawful” and imposed restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, citing Supreme Court observations against forced shutdowns and disruption of public life.
Deputy Inspector General of Police (Capital Region) Tumme Amo appealed to the public to reject “bandh culture” and continue normal activities under police protection.
Police officials informed that a few individuals linked to the bandh were apprehended as a preventive measure.
However, no incidents of violence were reported during the shutdown.
