BORDUMSA, 6 Sep: The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Chakma & Hajong CBOs of Arunachal Pradesh has called upon the Changlang district administration to ensure a prompt, impartial and transparent investigation "into the events of 3 and 4 September" here during a hearing conducted as part of the special intensive revision (SIR) process, and to take appropriate action in accordance with the law on the basis of the evidence collected.

"The events occurred in a large and fluid gathering, and responsibility for any particular act, including any injury or damage, must be determined through a fair, impartial and lawful investigation based upon evidence," the JAC said in a press release on Sunday.

The release said that JAC condemns, "without qualification and irrespective of who may have been responsible," any disruption of a lawful electoral hearing, assault upon a public official in the discharge of duty, damage to government property, communal provocation, violence of any kind, or display or use of firearms in or around a public hearing venue. "Such conduct has no place in a democratic society governed by the rule of law," the release said.

"The JAC recognises that AAPSU and members of the Singpho and Khamti communities may have genuine concerns regarding the Form 6, Form 7 and Form 8 hearing process and its implications. Such concerns are legitimate matters for discussion and resolution through constitutional, administrative and lawful processes, and not through confrontation, intimidation or disruption of electoral proceedings," the release said.

The JAC also invited the leadership of the AAPSU, representatives of the Singpho and Khamti communities, Chakma and Hajong community representatives, and the state administration to participate in a structured and facilitated dialogue at the earliest practicable opportunity, with a view to addressing the concerns of all stakeholders through evidence, law and constitutional process, the release said.

The release further said that the JAC appeals to all communities - Chakma, Singpho, Khamti and others - to maintain peace and restraint, refrain from retaliation or inflammatory rhetoric, avoid circulating unverified information on social media, and allow the lawful process of investigation and electoral adjudication to take its course.

"The JAC is saddened to learn that a member of the AAPSU is reported to have sustained a head injury during Wednesday's confrontation, and we wish him a swift and full recovery - no one, on any side of this dispute, should have come to harm. There have also been reports of injuries to a few Chakma electors and we wish them speedy recovery too," the release added.