ITANAGAR, 7 Sep: The Tai Khamti Development Society (TKDS) has strongly condemned the Bordumsa incident in which AAPSU activist Khoda Lazer sustained injury in violence related to the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Violence erupted during the hearing in which Chakma-Hajong refugee settlers and AAPSU activists reportedly clashed.

In a statement, the TKDS said, "We express our solidarity with AAPSU and other indigenous organisations in their legitimate and democratic endeavour to safeguard the constitutional, demographic, cultural and political interests of the indigenous people of Arunachal Pradesh. Violence, intimidation or physical assault upon any person raising lawful objections in a democratic or electoral process is unacceptable. We urge the competent authorities to conduct a fair and impartial investigation and take appropriate action against every person found responsible, irrespective of community or affiliation."

Further, the TKDS appealed to the election authorities and all stakeholders to ensure that the SIR in Arunachal is conducted with utmost transparency, rigorous verification and due sensitivity to the state's special constitutional, statutory and demographic safeguards.

"Arunachal Pradesh enjoys a distinctive protective legal framework arising from its unique historical, tribal and demographic circumstances. The inner line permit system under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873, the applicable restrictions governing entry and stay of outsiders and foreigners, the Foreigners (Protected Areas) regime, and the state laws protecting indigenous interests in land, settlement and customary rights together reflect the special safeguards historically accorded to the indigenous tribal population of the state. Such safeguards must be respected and effectively enforced by the competent authorities wherever applicable," it added.

The TKDS said also that entry or deletion from the electoral roll cannot be decided merely on the basis of community, ethnicity or refugee ancestry. Every case must be examined individually and strictly in accordance with the Constitution of India, the Representation of the People Act, 1950, the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, applicable citizenship laws and the directions of the Election Commission of India governing SIR, it added.

Accordingly, any genuine objection relating to citizenship, ordinary residence, duplication, ineligibility, or other statutory disqualification should be properly examined through the prescribed claims, objections, verification and hearing process. No person who is legally ineligible should find place in the electoral roll; equally, no eligible Indian citizen should be denied enrolment contrary to law and due process, the TKDS added.

"We further appeal to all communities to maintain peace and restraint and to resolve all disputed claims only through lawful institutional mechanisms. The TKDS stands firmly for the protection of indigenous rights, demographic security and the rule of law - principles which must complement, and not contradict, each other," stated the TKDS.