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12-Hour Bandh Shuts Arunachal Capital as Police Detain Protest Enforcers

Officials declared the shutdown unlawful under court-backed orders during a sensitive local election period.

Overview

  • Markets, schools and most transport were halted across the Itanagar Capital Region during the dawn-to-dusk shutdown, with no major violence reported.
  • The bandh was called by three youth groups pressing for demolition of alleged unauthorized mosques and prayer structures, a ban on weekly markets, and deportation of people they allege entered illegally from Bangladesh and Rohingya communities.
  • The district administration cited a Supreme Court ruling against bandhs and invoked Section 163 of the BNSS and the Arunachal Pradesh Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act to prohibit coercive enforcement.
  • Police and paramilitary forces were deployed across Itanagar, Naharlagun and Nirjuli, with warnings of legal action over circulating objectionable voice messages.
  • Detentions were reported through the day for attempts to enforce the shutdown, and a senior police official later said 31 people were held as a precaution, while authorities also highlighted tighter Inner Line Permit checks with thousands found without valid documents.