Bandh disrupts life in Arunachal capital

Itanagar: Life came to a halt in the state capital today during the dawn-to-dusk bandh called by All Arunachal Pradesh Border Students' Union in protest against the state government's failure to resolve the long-pending boundary impasse with neighbouring Assam.

All commercial and public vehicles remained off the road, while a few state transport buses were seen plying with security, official reports said.

Business establishments and traders downed shutters. Educational institutions, private establishments and central government offices did not function.

Thin attendance was recorded in government offices, reports said.

Bandh enforcers damaged several vehicles by pelting stones, besides blocking the National Highway 52A at several locations.

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Eighteen bandh enforces, two of them women, were arrested from Itanagar and Naharlagun areas, Superintendent of Police Hibu Tamang said.

The AAPBSU called the shutdown demanding immediate issuance of land possession certificates (LPC) free-of-cost to the Arunachalees settled in the inter-state boundary areas without clearance from the forest department.

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Other demands include construction of permanent police check gates in all inter-state boundary areas, creation of a separate post of DGP for border affairs and inclusion of chief secretary and principal secretary as members in local inter-state boundary commission.