Arunachal: ICR administration declares Dec 9 bandh illegal

Guwahati: The Itanagar Capital Region (ICR) district administration of Arunachal Pradesh on Monday declared the 12-hour bandh announced for December 9 by three youth organisations as illegal and unlawful, warning that any attempt to enforce the shutdown would invite strict penal action.

The Indigenous Youth Force of Arunachal (IYFA), the Arunachal Pradesh Indigenous Youth Organisation (APIYO), and the All Naharlagun Youth Organisation (ANYO) had jointly announced the bandh while continuing their agitation over what they describe as increasing illegal influx and the rising number of mosques and panjra-namas (temporary prayer structures) in the region. The groups said they had earlier submitted a charter of demands to the state government but found the response “unsatisfactory”.

District Magistrate Toko Babu, invoking Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), issued an order stating that bandhs cause “untold misery and hardship” to the public, especially daily wage workers, patients, and traders. He cautioned that such shutdowns also pose a risk to law and order.

The administration highlighted that elections to rural and urban local bodies have already been notified by the State Election Commission, and the model code of conduct is currently in force. With polling activities underway within the Itanagar Municipal Corporation limits and in Baat-Ganga and Borum panchayat areas, officials said any disruption could hamper the smooth conduct of the election process.

“Therefore, the proposed 12-hour bandh on December 9, 2025, stands declared illegal and unlawful,” the order read, directing the three organisations to abstain from enforcing the shutdown.

The district magistrate further warned that anyone violating the directive would face “stringent penal action”.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chukhu Apa warned that anyone trying to enforce the proposed bandh or disrupt public order would face tough legal consequences. Speaking to reporters at the Police Headquarters, he made it clear that the police would not allow any group to create unrest or obstruct normal life.

The IGP said the force has already deployed “elaborate security arrangements” across the region to safeguard residents and keep essential services running smoothly during the shutdown period. He added that the security measures aim to prevent any law-and-order issues and ensure that daily activities continue without interruption.