India News | Normalcy Returns to Remote Arunachal Town That Saw Violence over Panchayat Polls
Get latest articles and stories on India at LatestLY. Normalcy returned to the remote Arunachal Pradesh town of Vijoynagar, which saw violent protests with several government offices burnt over the voting rights of former Assam Rifles personnel in the panchayat polls, a senior official said on Sunday.
Itanagar, Dec 13 (PTI) Normalcy returned to the remote Arunachal Pradesh town of Vijoynagar, which saw violent protests with several government offices burnt over the voting rights of former Assam Rifles personnel in the panchayat polls, a senior official said on Sunday.
Security has been tightened in the sensitive town, which is surrounded by Myanmar on three sides, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Kime Kaming told PTI after returning from the area.
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Paramilitary forces along with the police have been deployed in Vijoynagar to ensure peace, he said, adding that vandalism will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
Vijoynagar, in the state's Changlang district, saw widespread arson on Friday as a mob of around 400 people led by the Yobin Students' Union set fire to the offices of the Extra Assistant Commissioner, Special Branch of the state police and the post office, besides ransacking the local police station.
The civil helipad was also partially damaged by the mob.
Ex-employees of the Assam Rifles have been living in the town since the early '60s. They originally hailed from outside the state but form the majority of the local population now, official sources said.
The protesters demanded the cancellation of the right of these former Assam Rifles personnel living in the area to take part in panchayat elections and their immediate deportation, among others.
Inspector-general of police Chukhu Apa and Changlang superintendent of police Mihin Gambo are still in the area to keep a close watch on the emerging situation.
Changlang's deputy commissioner Devnash Yadav, who also returned from Vijoynagar by a helicopter on Sunday, said that those who would dare to create any law and order problem would be dealt with strongly.
Four FIRs have been lodged in connection with Friday's incident, he said.
Vijoynagar, which is yet to be connected by roads, is the remotest circle of the Changlang district. The circle consists of 16 villages having a population of over 4,000 people, official sources said.
While 55 per cent of the population belong to retired Assam Rifles personnel, the remaining 45 per cent comprises people of the Lisu, also known as Yobin, tribe. The settlement of the Assam Rifles personnel began from 1961, they said.
Several students' bodies of Arunachal Pradesh opposed the participation of the former Assam Rifles personnel in the December 22 panchayat polls, which prompted the State Election Commission to defer the election in Vijoynagar, with the apprehension of the breakdown of law and order in the area.
As there is no road connection, people of the area are dependent on military helicopters for essential services and requirements. Miao is the nearest town to Vijoynagar, around 157 km away.
(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)