Itanagar, May 13: The District Magistrate of Capital Itanagar, Toko Babu, has declared the proposed 36-hour bandh called by the Arunachal ST Bachao Andolan Committee as illegal and unlawful under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) read with the Arunachal Pradesh Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 2014.
According to the order issued on Wednesday, the bandh was reportedly called by the general secretary of the Committee, Millo Ambo, from 5 am on May 14 in the Itanagar Capital Region over issues related to the Inner Line Permit (ILP).
The District Magistrate stated that such bandh calls cause immense hardship to the public, particularly daily wage earners, patients, business establishments and commuters, besides posing risks to law and order and public property.
The order also cited a Supreme Court judgment in Civil Appeal No. 7728/29 of 1997 (CPI vs Bharat Kumar and Others), which declared bandh calls by political parties, organisations or individuals as unconstitutional and illegal.
Referring to past incidents of unrest and economic losses arising from bandh calls in the Capital Region, the administration directed the organisers to refrain from enforcing the proposed shutdown and immediately call it off.
The order warned that violators would face strict legal action as per law. The Superintendents of Police of Itanagar and Naharlagun have been instructed to ensure strict enforcement of the order.