A 12-hour shutdown called by three youth organisations seeking the ouster of migrants without proper documents affected normal life in the Itanagar Capital Region of Arunachal Pradesh on Tuesday (December 9, 2025).
The Itanagar Capital Region (ICR) comprises the State’s capital, Itanagar, Naharlagun town and other satellite settlements in the vicinity.
The three organisations – Arunachal Pradesh Indigenous Youth Organisation, Indigenous Youth Force of Arunachal, and the All Naharlagun Youth Organisation – have also been demanding action against people behind unauthorised religious structures in the ICR, apart from a drive to oust “illegal immigrants from Bangladesh” and Rohingyas.
Vehicles stayed off the roads, and commercial establishments remained shut. However, the district administration had declared the shutdown “illegal and unlawful” through an order citing a Supreme Court ruling that bars bandhs imposed by organisations.
The ICR’s Deputy Inspector General of Police, Tumme Amo, said that 31 people were detained from Itanagar, Naharlagun, and Nirjuli as a precautionary measure. “Adequate security personnel were deployed across the capital region to maintain order,” he said.
The State’s Home Minister, Mama Natung, said shutdowns are never the solution, especially during election time. The panchayat and municipal council elections in Arunachal Pradesh will be held on December 15.
“The shutdown could have been avoided, especially because the government is always open to dialogue on all demands by all organisations,” he said.
He also clarified the government’s stand on unauthorised structures. “Necessary action will be taken against any illegal construction, whether it is a mosque, temple, or church,” he said.
Published – December 10, 2025 08:41 am IST
