Chakma and Hajong refugees citizenship status: Violence during bandh in Arunachal Pradesh

Itanagar: Violence marred the dawn-to-dusk statewide bandh as normal life came to a halt in Arunachal Pradesh following the bandh called by the All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union (AAPSU).

In the state capital, bandh supporters damaged several vehicles including torching a state transport bus and a private vehicle during morning hours, Capital SP Sagar Singh Kalsi said.

Reports of violence were also pouring in from Namsai, Changlang and several other districts.

All government offices, educational institutions, markets, commercial establishments remained closed while public and private transport remained off the road.

Though a few state transport buses were seen plying during the morning hours, but the services were suspended later, police said.

The AAPSU has called the bandh in protest against the Union Home Minister's recent decision to grant citizenship to the Chakma and the Hajong refugees in the state.