Chakmas prevented from appearing at SIR hearings in Arunachal Pradesh; NHRC intervention sought

Guwahati: The Chakma Development Foundation of India (CDFI) sought the intervention of the Hon’ble National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to enforce the Supreme Court judgment in National Human Rights Commission v. State of Arunachal Pradesh [1996 AIR 1234, 1996 SCC (1) 742], after Chakma electors were prevented from appearing at the hearing of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) at Bordumsa in Changlang district today.

Following protests by members of the All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union (AAPSU), the hearing at Bordumsa in Changlang district had to be postponed. The office of the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) was also damaged.

The hearing at Bordumsa could not be completed on Thursday either. The ERO was able to hear only 222 of the 252 Form 6 applications, while only 150 of the 303 applications could be heard. Because of the violence, the hearing had to be postponed.


“The repeat of the violence on Friday after yesterday’s incidents exposes the absolute failure of the State of Arunachal Pradesh in all aspects. The situation should never have been allowed to reach a stage where people resort to widespread violence and stone-pelting etc.” stated Suhas Chakma.

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In order to restore peace and tranquillity, the CDFI filed a complaint with the NHRC seeking enforcement of the 1996 judgment, which directed that “The State of Arunachal Pradesh shall ensure that the life and personal liberty of each and every Chakma residing within the State shall be protected and any attempt to forcibly evict or drive them out of the State by organised groups, such as the AAPSU, shall be repelled, if necessary by requisitioning the service of para-military or police force, and if additional forces are considered necessary to carry out this direction, the State of Arunachal Pradesh will request the Union of India to provide such additional force, and the second respondent shall provide such additional force as is necessary to protect the lives and liberty of the Chakmas.”

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In light of the violence on 3–4 September 2026, there are serious threats to the lives and liberties of Chakmas and Hajongs during the forthcoming hearings. The CDFI has therefore sought directions from the NHRC to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the State of Arunachal Pradesh, and the Election Commission of India to ensure the right to life and personal liberty of Chakmas and Hajongs during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision.