Itanagar: Commercial activities, govt offices and vehicular movement came to a standstill in the Itanagar Capital Region on Thursday as All Nyishi Students’ Union called a 12-hour bandh over the state govt’s alleged failure to address its key education-related demands.The shutdown was observed from 5 am to 5 pm.ANSU’s demands include funding allocations and infrastructure improvements for 56 identified govt schools across seven Nyishi-inhabited districts, the early opening of Govt Engineering College at Toru in Papum Pare district, setting up of a school for children with special needs in Pakke-Kessang district, and immediate redeployment of subject-wise teachers attached to administrative offices back to classrooms.Addressing media persons after the bandh, ANSU executive members warned that the student body would launch a 48-hour statewide democratic shutdown starting Sept 28 if the state govt fails to fulfil its demands.ANSU proceeded with Thursday’s bandh after a meeting with state home minister Mama Natung and education minister Pasang Dorjee Sona on Wednesday failed to resolve the deadlock.The protest continued despite strict administrative orders. ICR district magistrate Toko Babu had declared the shutdown unlawful under Section 163 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, citing potential public hardship and law-and-order problems.Emergency services were exempted from the shutdown, but markets, shops and other business establishments remained closed. Public transport was also severely affected.ICR Itanagar SP Jummar Basar said the bandh was largely peaceful, barring stray incidents where a four-wheeler and a scooter were allegedly set on fire by protesters in Itanagar and Naharlagun in the morning.Security forces were deployed at key intersections across the capital city to maintain order. Police personnel also escorted passengers to Donyi Polo Airport in Hollongi and facilitated secure transit for officials of Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) and Arunachal Pradesh Staff Selection Board (APSSB).
