Staff REPORTER
ITANAGAR, Sep 24: Normal life was disrupted in the Arunachal Pradesh capital on Thursday as the All Nyishi Students’ Union (ANSU) enforced a 12-hour bandh from 5 am to 5 pm over its demands for infrastructure development in 56 identified schools in Nyishi-inhabited districts.
Shops, markets and other business establishments in the Itanagar Capital Region (ICR) remained closed during the dawn-to-dusk shutdown. Schools, colleges, banks, post offices and other financial institutions also remained closed.
Vehicular movement, including public and private transport services, was severely affected, with only vehicles engaged in essential duties, including police and magistrates, were seen on the roads. The bandh also affected daily wage earners and other sections dependent on daily economic activity.
The bandh was largely peaceful, barring stray incidents, including arson involving two vehicles near the Civil Secretariat and Naharlagun's Papu Nallah, police sources said. Security personnel were deployed at vulnerable locations and near vital installations to maintain law and order.
Earlier, ICR District Magistrate Toko Babu has declared the shutdown illegal under Section 163 of the BNSS, directing the bandh callers to call off it.
The bandh came two days after Home Minister Mama Natung, along with Education Minister Pasang Dorjee Sona, held a meeting with ANSU representatives on September 22. Natung said detailed discussions were held on the union’s concerns relating to education and student welfare, with emphasis on continued dialogue, coordination and finding a meaningful way forward.
The ANSU had on September 14 served a seven-day ultimatum to the Education Department, seeking immediate action on its representation for allocation of funds for 56 identified schools in Nyishi-inhabited districts.
Additionally, the students’ body has been demanding the immediate commencement of academic activities at Toru Government Engineering College, and the introduction of BEed course at Neelam Taram Government College, Yachuli.
The union has maintained that its demands relate to basic educational infrastructure and the future of thousands of students and, therefore, should not be left unattended.