Ziro (Arunachal Pradesh), 21 January (HS): Normal activities were severely disrupted across parts of Lower Subansiri district on Wednesday after a 24-hour bandh was enforced by the Ziro unit of the ST Bachao Andolan Committee, protesting the alleged illegal construction of mosques in the area. Authorities said the shutdown remained peaceful.

The bandh, which began at 5 am, saw markets shuttered, vehicular movement largely absent from roads and government offices witnessing minimal attendance. Despite the disruption, police maintained that the situation remained under control with no reports of violence or untoward incidents.

Lower Subansiri Superintendent of Police Keni Bagra said protesters were cooperating with the district administration and law enforcement agencies. He added that the agitation had not affected highway connectivity, as demonstrators refrained from blocking the key route passing through Ziro that links Kamle and Upper Subansiri districts.

According to police, the protest centres on demands for the demolition of two mosques allegedly being constructed without valid documentation—one at Suluya in Old Ziro and another at Pare Ami in Hapoli. The constructions, officials said, are reportedly based on agreements with landowners but lack requisite legal approvals.

The administration made special arrangements to ensure that students appearing for Class 5 and Class 8 state pre-board examinations, as well as Class 10 pre-board exams, were able to sit for their tests without obstruction.

Earlier, on January 20, Lower Subansiri deputy commissioner-in-charge Hage Tarung had imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 and declared the bandh illegal in view of potential law and order concerns.-----------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash