Molestation attempt; Students block road in Arunachal

Itanagar, Oct 23: Students, led by local MLA Ngurang Pinch, All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union (AAPSU) president Kanu Bagang, All Nyishi Students' Union (ANSU) general secretary Gyamar Rai and other student leaders, blocked the Kimin-Ziro road to protest the alleged molestation attempt by a security personnel.

Papum Pare Superintendent of Police (SP) Hibu Tamang said here today that an Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) jawan had allegedly attempted to molest two students at Kimin near here on October 20, which snowballed into a major incident, resulting in an agitation and the ITBP personnel lathicharging the protestors.

Local people alleged that around 40 ITBP jawans resorted to lathicharge, injuring about 30 persons, including three police constables on duty.

Besides, the tax and excise checkgate and many houses were damaged in the incident, the SP informed.

Consequently, the local people blocked the Kimin-Ziro road yesterday, demanding immediate action against the jawan and shifting of the ITBP motor transport garage from the Kimin area to its main camp site nearby.

However, the SP, along with other police personnel, brought the situation under control after an hour-long negotiation with the people and the blockade was lifted after 11 hours.

Meanwhile, the ITBP stated that it would conduct an inquiry into the incident and bear all medical expenses of those injured in the lathicharge, the SP said, adding that a police case had also been registered and an investigation launched.

Local sources, however, alleged that ITBP deputy commandant R B Khuswa was responsible for worsening the situation as he took no step to control his unruly personnel even after being informed of the lathicharge.

The local people also alleged that the ITBP personnel were a nuisance to the society as there had been frequent complaints accusing them of teasing women.

They demanded shifting of the ITBP to its nearby camp site from Kimin and allowing the nine Assam Rifles to function in the area instead, the SP added.

UNI