Bandh affects Arunachal, government constitutes inquiry com

Itanagar, Aug 26 (UNI) Life was affected in Arunachal Pradesh following the 36-hour statewide bandh, called in protest against an ''unfair'' draw of lottery, even as the state government constituted a one-man inquiry committee last evening to go into the details of the issue. The bandh, sponsored by the All Arunachal Pradesh Donyi-Polo Vidhya Bhawan Raffle Lottery Ticket Holders' Committee (AAPDPVBRLTHC), was the second phase of its agitational programme, the first being the capital bandh on August 21, in protest against the alleged manipulation of the lottery draw, as all the prizes were won by the committee members of the raffle draw. The state government yesterday constituted a high-level one-man committee, headed by Home Commissioner V K Singh, to inquire into the whole affair and submit its report within one month. Chief Minister Gegong Apang addressing a press conference here today informed that the state Cabinet in its emergency meeting this morning endorsed the decision of constituting the committee and would initiate appropriate action after finalisation of the report. Appealing to the aggrieved people to cooperate with the government and not to resort to any such agitation in the future till the report was out, Mr Apang categorically stated that the state government would not tolerate any such ''unnecessary movement'' and would take stringent action against those violating law.

'' I have ordered for an impartial inquiry into the lottery issue and am ready to initiate action against those found guilty in the entire episode, '' the Chief Minister said while claiming that the draw was genuine, and the venue and time were changed due to security reasons. Rubbishing the allegations, levelled by the Opposition of his involvement in the matter, Mr Apang questioned the integrity of the AAPDPVBRLTHC and said many members of the committee even did not purchase tickets and it was the handiwork of certain political parties to gain political mileage.

UNI UPB SJC LL ND1454