Staff Reporter
ITANAGAR, 15 May: The 36-hour capital bandh enforced by the ST Bachao Andolan Committee (STBAC) turned violent on Friday after hundreds of protesters gheraoed the Itanagar police station, demanding immediate release of all detainees arrested during the bandh.
The 36-hour bandh was till 5 PM on Friday.
Crowds began marching from Naharlagun to Itanagar, shouting slogans and demanding the release of all detainees, including committee chairman Sol Dodum, general secretary Millo Ambo, activist Tana Tamar, and several others. The crowd swelled gradually after it reached Papu Nallah.
The capital police attempted to stop them from marching further at 6 Mile, between Papu Nallah and Itanagar. However, the protesters outnumbered the security personnel and removed the barricades to continue their march. Under pressure, the state government later released all the detainees, which was officially communicated by Home Minister Mama Natung and ICR Deputy Commissioner Toko Babu.
Dodum met the protesters at 6 Mile and attempted to pacify them by informing them that his colleagues Millo Ambo and Tana Tamar had also been released from the Tezu district jail and were en route to Itanagar.
Some protesters heckled Dodum while he was addressing them at 6 Mile and threw stones at him. The march was initially peaceful. However, some protesters turned violent and started pelting stones at the Itanagar police station, forcing the police to resort to firing tear gas and blank shots to disperse the violent crowd.
In the meantime, a video of committee GS Millo Ambo and activist Tana Tamar was shown to the crowd, in which they stated that they had been released by the police and were en route to Itanagar. However, the crowd dismissed it, claiming that it might be an AI-generated video of both activists.
The crowd later blocked NH 415 at C Sector, stating they would continue the road blockade until Ambo and Tamar reached Itanagar safely. The crowd then marched to Indira Gandhi Park to wait for their arrival.
Some protesters went berserk near the civil secretariat gate, but were later quelled by security personnel.
The STBAC is demanding strengthening of the Inner Line Permit system and expulsion of illegal immigrants from Assam and Tibetan refugees.
