Bandh passes peacefully amidst protest over land, institutional demands

Maksam Tayeng

PASIGHAT, Feb 14: The 12-hour bandh called by the All Bogong Students’ Union (ABSU) in Pasighat, the headquarters of East Siang district, concluded peacefully on Wednesday, despite being declared illegal by the district administration. Markets, government offices, and educational institutions remained closed, with minimal public movement observed across the town.

While the district administration had directed government offices to remain open, attendance was significantly low, barring a few offices, including those of the deputy commissioner and superintendent of police.

ABSU members and supporters from Bogong Banggo were stationed across key locations in Pasighat to enforce the shutdown. Security forces were deployed in vulnerable areas to prevent damage to public property.

Speaking to the media near the DC and SP offices, ABSU president Siang Moyong claimed that the bandh was successful and thanked the public of Pasighat and Bogong Banggo for their cooperation. He stated that the union had been raising its demands with the district administration and state government since last year, but inaction had led to the enforcement of the bandh.

"If our demands remain unaddressed, we will intensify our agitation with a 24-hour bandh in the next phase," he said.

Moyong also alleged that land donated by the Bogong Banggo community since the British and NEFA era was being illegally encroached upon by government officials and the public, despite multiple eviction orders issued by the administration. He urged authorities to take immediate action to remove encroachments. However, Pasighat East MLA Tapi Darang has clarified that funds for the renovation of Balek Road have already been sanctioned.

ABSU’s key demands include renaming the Government GNM School of Nursing as Late Tagoli Jamoh Memorial School of Nursing, renaming the Government Polytechnic College as Late Kuttik Moyong Memorial Polytechnic College, inclusion of a Bogong Banggo Kebang representative in the District Land Allotment Committee, retention of three newly constructed buildings in Pasighat Market under local funds with the inclusion of a BBK representative in the allotment process, and immediate eviction of illegal encroachments at GTC Secondary School, Upper Primary School Paglek, and IGJ Government Higher Secondary School Pasighat.

ABSU general secretary Gambo Tamin urged the administration and government to consider the demands, emphasizing the historical contribution of the Bogong Banggo community, which donated land to establish Pasighat, the oldest town in Arunachal Pradesh.

Earlier in the day, a minor confrontation took place between ABSU members and the police when a group of protesters led by Tamin attempted to march toward the DC and SP offices following a general meeting at Mirku Secondary School field. However, the situation remained under control with no major incidents reported.