Arunachal Pradesh: Agitated protesters set ablaze Deputy CM's residence

Itanagar: Defying curfew, the agitated protesters, on Sunday, set ablaze the private residence of Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein and damaged public property and vehicles against recommendations to grant permanent resident certificates to six communities, police said.

It is to be mentioned that the Joint High Power Committee (JHPC), after holding meeting with the stakeholders, recommended granting permanent resident certificates (PRCs) to six communities, who are not natives of Arunachal Pradesh but have been living in Namsai and Changlang districts for decades.

Following which a state wide protest was launched and 35 people, including 24 police personnel, were injured in stone pelting, later, an indefinite curfew was imposed in Itanagar and Naharlagun, on Saturday. The Army had also conducted flag marches in Itanagar and Naharlagun.

Internet services remained suspended in Itanagar and Naharlagun.

The PRCs proposal evoked resentment among several community-based groups and students' organisations, who claimed that the rights and the interests of indigenous people will be compromised if the state government accepts them.

The tension grew grave between protesters and government after a person who was injured in police firing on Friday succumbed to his injuries.

The protesters also blocked the road leading to the Naharlagun railway station due to which many passengers, including patients, were stuck up at the station since Sunday morning.

All markets, petrol pumps and shops remained closed and most of the ATMs in the state capital ran out of cash. Around 60 police vehicles were set ablaze, while, over 150 vehicles were damaged by the protesters since Friday, said police.