Economic blockade was unfortunate; Dabi

Itanagar, Sep 20 (UNI) Economic blockade by Assam Sankhyalaghu Yuva Chatra Parishad(ASYCP) at Banderdewa on Thursday was unfortunate, said Arunachal Pradesh government spokesman Tako Dabi.

Addressing a meeting here last evening, Mr Dabi said the NH 52 blockade at Banderdewa was likely to effect 'operation clean drive' by various students' unions in Itanagar and Naharlogun.

Operation clean drive was a routine duty of the administration to check inner line permits (ILP) which is mandatory for every Indian citizen to enter Arunachal Pradesh as per the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation 1873, he said.

Thousands of people under the banner of ASYCP blocked the national highway for about five hours in the morning on Thursday as a result of which traffic movement came to a grinding halt.

They were alleged of unnecessary harassment and injustice against a particular community and genuine ILP holders during the operation clean drive.

Crowd also pelted stones and damaged vehicles when police resorted to lathi-charge over the agitating people to disperse them.

Later agitator's withdrew blockade after Papum Pare Deputy commissioner Bidol Tayeng and Superintendent of police (SP) Hibu Tamang and SP Syed Ataur Karim of North Lakhimpur, Assam rushed to the spot and assured the agitators to look into their grievances.

Clarifying governments stand over ILP checking conducted by students' union, Mr Dabi, said no union was authorised to do that on behalf of the Papumpare district administration.

If anyone has been victimised complain should be lodged with the police and law will take its own course, he added.

Denying allegations that the drive was against the Muslim community and that they faced atrocities before being driven out, the government spokesman clarified that only 103 people were detected during the operation clean drive including 77 Hindus, 23 Muslims and 3 Christians without ILPs and deported them on September 12.

The government spokesman appealed to all the sections of people to exercise restraint and lend their full cooperation to maintain peace and communal harmony among different communities.

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