Adi Students’ Union’s 12-hour bandh over Siang project paralyses life

Itanagar: Normal life was paralysed in several towns of Siang and Upper Siang districts, following a dawn-to-dusk bandh call by the Adi Students’ Union on Monday.The 12-hour bandh was called to protest against the state govt’s lack of response to its charter of demands pertaining to the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP).The apex students body of the Adi community had urged the state govt on Aug 25, with a reminder to the Chief Minister’s Office on Sept 11, not to conduct pre-feasibility report survey for the project until all the 31 villages in the two districts are convinced of the project’s benefit. They have also been demanding immediate removal of illegal stationing of paramilitary personnel in the two districts, eviction of illegal encroachment of govt school premises in different parts of Siang district and revocation of the suspension order issued to eight gaon buras by Siang deputy commissioner.In Siang HQs, Boleng, protesters stormed the deputy commissioner’s office after breaking the entry gate and locked the office, an official said. Siang superintendent of police JK Lego said the protesters staged dharna at the DC’s office.Police and paramilitary personnel deployed in the office maintained restraint not to escalate the situation, he said. The protesters, the SP, said later opened the lock and allowed police to take over the office. He added that the protesters did not cause any damage to public property.In the morning, AdiSU volunteers restored to burning tyres in the market area and at the entry point to Boleng town.The SP said the bandh was peaceful in other parts of the district, as police were deployed at Rottung village (near the entry to Siang district) along Aalo-Pangin-Pasighat road and at Tarak village (near the entry to West Siang district) along Aalo-Pangin-Pasighat road.Upper Siang deputy commissioner Talo Jerang said the bandh was peaceful in the entire district. The bandh was enforced in all the major towns in the district — Geku, Jengging, Mariyang, Tuting and Yingkiong — but it ended peacefully without any law-and-orderand order problem.People remained indoors as shops and govt offices were closed in view of the bandh, he said.The DC said students who were writing their half-yearly examinations were allowed to go to schools.Terming the bandh as a success, AdiSU president Jirbo Jamoh reiterated its appeal to the state govt to address their grievances. He thanked the people of Siang and Upper Siang districts for their solidarity.