Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has announced that the state government would create a separate department dedicated to the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system to strengthen its enforcement and safeguard the rights of indigenous tribal communities in the state.
The announcement came after a seven-hour-long high-level consultative meeting held in Itanagar, where representatives of student bodies, community-based organisations (CBOs), political parties, legal experts and civil society groups discussed issues related to indigenous rights and implementation of the ILP system.
Describing the meeting as one of the most extensive discussions on the future of the state and its tribal communities, Khandu said the government was committed to protecting the identity, demographic security and constitutional rights of the indigenous people of Arunachal Pradesh.
“All community-based organisations, student bodies, representatives of political parties and other stakeholders attended the consultative meeting and shared their concerns and suggestions,” the Chief Minister told reporters after the meeting.
The discussions also focused on demands raised by the Arunachal Pradesh ST Bachao Andolan Committee (APSTBAC). The organisation had sought stronger protection of tribal rights, strict implementation of the ILP system, action against illegal immigrants and opposition to granting Scheduled Tribe status to non-tribal communities.
Khandu said the government had accepted all four demands “in principle” and described them as genuine concerns raised by the people.
The Chief Minister also said the government would take action against alleged illegal religious structures in the state. Referring to allegations regarding illegal mosques, he said directions had already been issued to the Chief Secretary to prepare a detailed report for further action.
As part of the next step, Khandu announced that seven-member delegations from the Arunachal Indigenous Tribes Forum (AITF), the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU), APSTBAC and legal experts had been invited for another meeting on May 29 to prepare a roadmap on the issues discussed during the consultation.
The developments come amid protests over the “Arunachal Pradesh Inner Line Permit Guidelines, 2026”. The APSTBAC had earlier called a 36-hour bandh from May 14, alleging that the new guidelines could weaken indigenous safeguards and dilute provisions of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873.
The bandh turned violent on May 15 after clashes were reported between protesters and security personnel. The committee had also warned of a 72-hour statewide bandh if its demands were not addressed by the government.
Responding to questions about a proposed 24-hour capital bandh announced by the Arunachal Pradesh Indigenous Youth Organisation (APIYO) over alleged illegal mosques in Itanagar, Khandu said the organisation had declared the protest without waiting for the outcome of the consultative meeting.
“Their demands are genuine, and the government has already announced action during the meeting,” he said while appealing to all organisations and citizens to maintain peace, restraint and cooperation.
