ITANAGAR : The state government has constituted a committee to identify a suitable plot of land in Itanagar for holding democratic protests and dharnas, following a demand by the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) for a designated protest ground in the capital.

According to a circular issued by the Itanagar Capital Complex Deputy Commissioner, the committee has been tasked with identifying a suitable site where individuals, organisations and groups can hold peaceful protests and demonstrations.

The committee is chaired by Itanagar Capital Complex Additional Deputy Commissioner Rajib Chiduni and comprises the Itanagar Assistant Commissioner, an AAPSU representative, the Executive Engineer of the Public Works Department (PWD) Highway Division, Nirjuli, the Executive Engineer of PWD Construction Division-A, Itanagar, the Divisional Forest Officer/Range Forest Officer (Social Forestry), Itanagar, and the District Land Revenue and Settlement Officer (DLRSO), Itanagar, who will serve as the Member Secretary.

Welcoming the government’s decision, AAPSU described the move as a long-pending and much-needed initiative, stating that the absence of a designated protest venue had deprived citizens and organisations of a fixed and recognised space to exercise their democratic right to peaceful protest.

The union said it would actively participate in the committee’s deliberations and work constructively with the administration to ensure that a suitable and easily accessible site is identified at the earliest, providing a permanent and dignified space for democratic expression.