A 12-hour shutdown was held across the Itanagar Capital Region on Tuesday lthough the district administration had already passed an order calling the bandh unlawful. Many shops and transport services in parts of Itanagar and Naharlagun remained shut in the morning, while police were seen asking shopkeepers and public transport operators to continue normal activities.The bandh was announced by three youth organisations – the Indigenous Youth Force of Arunachal, the Arunachal Pradesh Indigenous Youth Organisation, and the All Naharlagun Youth Organisation.
The groups have been holding protests over what they describe as illegal entry of outsiders into the capital region and the rise of makeshift prayer structures. They earlier submitted a list of demands to the state government and later said that the response was disappointing. The District Magistrate, Toko Babu, issued the order on Sunday evening, stating that bandhs cause hardship for the general public, especially daily wage earners and patients. The administration also pointed out that elections to local bodies are underway and the Model Code of Conduct is active. According to the order, any disruption could affect election-related work, and therefore the bandh cannot be allowed. However, the three organisations went ahead with the shutdown and called upon residents to support it.
They have demanded removal of what they call unauthorised religious structures and action against people they claim to be illegal migrants. Police patrolled different parts of the capital region on Monday morning. Some markets, particularly in Naharlagun, were shut when the bandh began at 5 am, but several shops reopened later in the day. Movement of vehicles was limited in the morning, but traffic gradually picked up after noon. Although the administration warned of strict legal action, no major incident had been reported by afternoon. Schools and government offices remained open, but attendance was thin in many places.
