ITANAGAR, Sept 19 - Violence marred the 12-hour State-wide bandh called by the All Arunachal Pradesh Students� Union (AAPSU) today.
The dawn-to-dusk bandh was called in protest against the Centres�s decision to grant citizenship to the Chakma and Hajong refugees residing in Arunachal Pradesh.
Normal life was hit by the bandh as shops and business establishments kept their shutters down across the State. Government offices, banks, post offices, educational institutions also remained closed during the bandh period. All types of vehicular traffic were off the roads, which wore a deserted look.
Police said about half a dozen vehicles were damaged by the bandh supporters.
Superintendent of Police, Itanagar Capital Complex, Sagar Singh informed that there was also an attempt to torch an APST bus.
The police has registered two FIRs in connection with the damage to public properties. He, however, said that no arrest has been made yet in this regard. The SP said that since the issue being an emotional one, extensive security arrangements were made with deployment of squads of cops in all sensitive and vital locations.
The bandh supporters also damaged a vehicle of an important department under the MHA by pelting stones, injuring seven of its commuters (all employees), said an informed source.
Even if the district administration had declared the bandh �illegal� and tried to crush the bandh but there was an overwhelming response from the public with several organisations, unions supporting the�AAPSU�s agitation.
