Pasighat violence: Adi body seeks judicial probe, gives govt 14 days

An Adi community organisation has asked the Arunachal Pradesh Governor to order an independent judicial inquiry into the October 23 violence in Pasighat, alleging that security forces used tear gas and stun grenades on protesters who were sitting peacefully.

The Adi Baane Kebang United (ABKU) made the demand in a memorandum submitted to the Governor on Tuesday, The Assam Tribune reported. The group has given the state government 14 days to start action against the police personnel and the magistrate who were on duty that day.

If nothing is done in that time, the memorandum warns, the organisation will begin a "democratic movement" together with other groups.

What the ABKU alleges

According to the memorandum, a group of young people who had taken part in a 24-hour sit-in protest were sitting near Raneghat Tiniali after the protest ended when security forces fired tear gas shells and threw stun grenades at them.

The organisation says several youths were hurt and taken to BPM Hospital in Pasighat. It also claims that the later violence in the town, including damage to the NHPC office, a police station and other property, followed this police action.

The ABKU said it does not support violence of any kind and condemns it, but argued that the crackdown on young men and women who were sitting peacefully was unnecessary and could not be justified.

The police and the East Siang district administration have not publicly responded to the fresh allegations. Officials had earlier appealed for peace and warned of legal action against those involved in the violence.

Bandh call and an alleged threat message

The memorandum also refers to the 12-hour bandh that had been proposed for October 23 across East Siang, Siang and Upper Siang districts.

It says the bandh in East Siang was withdrawn a day before it was due, after a voice message circulating on social media allegedly warned Pasighat shopkeepers not to open their shops. The ABKU has named the person it says was behind the message and attached the recording to its memorandum. In Siang and Upper Siang, the bandh went ahead and ended peacefully at 5 pm, it said.

Part of the wider SUMP dispute

The demand adds to the long-running tension over the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP), a large dam planned on the Siang river that has faced opposition from sections of the Adi community and other groups. After the October violence, the Centre rushed additional forces to Pasighat and several people, including students, were arrested. The state government has since released some anti-dam activists and offered talks.

The memorandum was signed by ABKU president Dijhi Tamuk, general secretary Jirbo Jamoh and vice-president Oyin Moyong.