Itanagar: The Public Right Action Committee halted parts of the Itanagar Capital Region during a 12-hour strike on November 4. Chairman Takam Sonia led the protest from 5 am to 5 pm. The group pushed the government to act on a laundry list of grievances.
Protesters want the immediate release of people held over the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project. They also demanded the state fix the Drug Testing Laboratory and overhaul pharmacy regulations. The committee highlighted the need for repairs to National Highway 415.
District Magistrate Toko Babu stood in the way. He declared the strike illegal under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. The move bypassed Supreme Court guidelines meant to curb such shutdowns.
Local authorities did not back down. The administration ordered the Superintendents of Police in Itanagar and Naharlagun to keep the peace and prevent the forced closure of businesses. Officials vowed to take penal action against anyone violating the order. Despite the heavy warnings, the committee maintained pressure. The region saw a partial shutdown as the committee stated the government faced a "failure to address its demands."
Comments