Judicial probe ordered into Arunachal violence

GUWAHATI: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Tuesday announced a judicial probe into the large scale rioting, violence and vandalism that took place following the recent permanent resident certificates (PRC) protest, which resulted in death of three youths, injuries and huge loss of public and private properties.

Speaking during the State BJP Council meeting, Chief Minister said justice will be served to the bereaved families and people responsible for causing violence in the state capital will be brought before the law.

He said the probe will be made by a committee headed by a retired judge to ensure thorough and impartial inquiry so that real picture of the PRC protest could be unearthed and appropriate actions taken against people behind the violence.


Recently in Itanagar large scale protest broke out on grant of PRC to the non- Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribe (APST) communities of Namsai and Chanaglang districts.

Khandu added that state government had never intended to move a resolution or bill in the Assembly over PRC, Chief Minister said that the matter was to be brought in the Assembly only for discussion during the short hour discussion and to make the recommendations of Joint High Power Committee (JHPC)on PRC public. After the JHPC recommendations had been made public, the state government had planned to call wider public consultation involving all stakeholders, student organizations and other bodies, said the Chief Minister. However, the issue was misinterpreted causing unrest among the students.

Sensing the unrest, Chief minister said a statement was issued in social media stating that PRC matter will not be taken up further. Despite such assurance, large scale rioting and vandalism of government and public properties took place, which meant that the anti social elements had taken control over the protest with political motive, said the Chief minister.

Chief Minister further informed that the matter of PRC to non-APST communities of Namsai and Changlang district has been forever scrapped and a gazette notification published affecting the same.