Normal life came to a standstill in parts of Arunachal Pradesh’s Lower Subansiri district on Wednesday following a 24-hour bandh called over the alleged illegal construction of mosques, even as police said the shutdown remained peaceful.
The bandh, called by the Ziro unit of the ST Bachao Andolan Committee, began at 5 am. Most shops remained closed, offices recorded thin attendance and vehicular movement was largely absent in the affected areas.
Lower Subansiri Superintendent of Police Keni Bagra said the situation in the Ziro valley was under control and no untoward incident had been reported during the shutdown.
Protesters are demanding the demolition of two mosques currently under construction, one at Suluya in Old Ziro and the other at Pare Ami in Hapoli.
Police said the constructions did not have proper documentation and were being carried out through deeds of agreement entered into with landowners.
Also read: PIB clears ₹26,069 crore Kamala hydropower project in Arunachal
The SP said the protesters were cooperating with the district administration and police. “They have stayed away from the highway, which is being kept open for commuters. The highway passing through Ziro is the main thoroughfare for people of Kamle and Upper Subansiri districts,” he said.
Authorities said protesters had allowed students appearing for Class 5 and Class 8 state pre-board examinations, as well as Class 10 pre-board examinations, to sit for their tests.
On Tuesday, Lower Subansiri deputy commissioner-in-charge Hage Tarung imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, and declared the bandh illegal.
Security personnel were deployed at sensitive locations across the district to ensure law and order, while the administration continued to monitor the situation closely.
Follow us
