Staff Reporter
ITANAGAR, NOV 4:
Normal life in the Itanagar Capital Region (ICR) was disrupted on Wednesday as the 12-hour bandh called by the Public Rights Action Committee (PRAC) from 5 am to 5 pm affected vehicular movement and business establishments.
The committee was demanding the release of individuals detained in connection with protests against the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP), besides pressing for improvements in road and healthcare services.
The bandh witnessed a halt in vehicular movement, while shops and most institutions remained closed, except for medical facilities. Police personnel were deployed across the capital region to maintain law and order and prevent any untoward incidents.
Addressing protesters at IG Park, PRAC chairman Takam Sonia said the state government had issued a letter to the Siang Indigenous Farmers’ Forum (SIFF), inviting its representatives to attend a meeting within two days to discuss the proposed SUMP and the release of individuals detained in connection with protests in Siang and Upper Siang districts.
The committee also raised concerns over the condition and maintenance of National Highway-415 (NH-415), regular availability of essential medicines, ambulance services and arrangements for transporting deceased persons.
Sonia said PRAC had not received any assurance from the government on these issues. He urged the government to either direct the Public Works Department and Health ministers to address the public and give assurances on the demands or invite the committee for a roundtable discussion. He warned that failure to address the issues could lead to an indefinite shutdown of the ICR.
A brief altercation broke out between bandh supporters and Capital Police when protesters attempted to take out a foot march towards Indira Gandhi Park. Superintendent of Police Jummar Basar said permission had not been granted for the march in view of prohibitory orders issued by the District Magistrate, restricting the assembly of more than four to five persons.
Basar said the demands raised by PRAC representatives had been heard, but the proposed march could not be allowed as it would violate the prevailing restrictions. He said the representatives had been advised to submit their demands to the government through the appropriate channels, including the offices of the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police.
The SP said the situation remained peaceful and the participants eventually dispersed without any law-and-order incident. He appealed to the public to pursue their demands through democratic and lawful means, while avoiding any loss of life or damage to public and private property.
Later, PRAC called off the bandh following what it described as a positive response from the state government to some of its key demands, including the release of activists detained in connection with the October 23 violence in Pasighat.
The committee has also been demanding the upgradation of Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (TRIHMS), operationalisation of the Drug Testing Laboratory (DTL) and early completion of NH-415.
Announcing the decision, Sonia said the issue of the detainees had been taken up by SIFF, which he described as the parent body spearheading the movement. He said the Chief Minister’s Office had invited SIFF representatives for dialogue on the matter.
Sonia also informed that the state government had convened a meeting to discuss demands concerning healthcare facilities at TRIHMS and the pending completion of NH-415.
However, he clarified that calling off the bandh did not mean PRAC was withdrawing its demands or ending its agitation. The committee would continue pursuing the issues until concrete action was taken, he said.
