Normal life was disrupted across the Itanagar Capital Region (ICR) on Friday as a 24-hour bandh called by the Arunachal Pradesh Indigenous Youth Organisation (APIYO) affected business activities, educational institutions and public movement, even as the state government maintained that the key issues raised by the organisation had already been resolved.
The shutdown, which began at 5 am on Friday, is scheduled to continue until 5 am on Saturday. The bandh was called by APIYO over concerns related to alleged unauthorised mosques and illegal immigration in the state.
The impact of the shutdown was visible across the capital region, with most shops, markets and educational institutions remaining closed throughout the day. Roads in several areas wore a deserted look, with only a limited number of government and police vehicles seen moving on the streets.
Police officials said the bandh remained largely peaceful, although a few incidents of tyre burning by supporters of the shutdown were reported from some locations. Security personnel were deployed in different parts of the capital region to maintain law and order and prevent any untoward incidents. The district administration had earlier declared the bandh illegal.
Meanwhile, the state government reiterated that action had already been taken on the main issue highlighted by the organisation. Addressing a press conference, Education Minister and government spokesperson Pasang Dorjee Sona said the administration had already closed all 15 mosques identified as operating without the required approvals in the Itanagar Capital Region.
“The issue that led to the bandh call has been resolved. Since all the identified mosques have been closed, there is no reason for the agitation to continue,” Sona said.
According to the minister, official verification conducted by the authorities found that several of the structures were functioning without mandatory approvals such as registration certificates, building permissions, development clearances and other statutory requirements.
He stated that 12 such structures had already been sealed or closed by the district administration, while the remaining three, which were located on private land, were shut down on Wednesday.
Sona further said that the government remains committed to ensuring that all institutions function within the framework of the law while maintaining peace, public order and communal harmony in the state.
The bandh also took place amid apparent confusion within APIYO after conflicting statements emerged from members of the organisation on Thursday. While one group of leaders announced during a press conference that the proposed shutdown had been withdrawn, another faction later stated through social media posts that the bandh would continue as originally scheduled.
Despite the government’s position that the primary demand had been addressed, the shutdown went ahead, leading to disruptions in daily life across the capital region. Authorities continued to monitor the situation closely throughout the day while appealing to the public to maintain peace and cooperate with law enforcement agencies.
The bandh is expected to conclude at 5 am on June 6.
