One Killed, Many Injured In Itanagar As PRC Protests Turn Violent

The protests were sparked by the BJP-led state government’s move to grant PRC to six non-tribal communities.

Vehicles were burned and roads were blocked. 

(Photo: The Quint)

One teenager was allegedly killed in police firing and another was critically injured in Arunachal Pradesh on Saturday, 23 February, as protests against PRC in the capital city of Itanagar turned violent. The protests were sparked by the BJP-led state government’s move to grant permanent resident certificate (PRC) to six non-tribal communities.

Many others, including policemen were injured after protestors tried marching on the Assembly on the second day of a 48-hour strike. The strike was called by 18 organisations that are opposing the move. Security forces fired tear gas shells and used water cannons to disperse the protestors.

The Arunachal Pradesh government on Friday had decided not to table the Joint High Power Committee (JHPC) report on Permanent Residential Certificate (PRC) to non-Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribe communities of Namsai and Changlang districts following violent protests.

The shutdown witnessed instances of vehicles being burnt, roads being blocked and agitators resorting to stone pelting at several places in the city.

(With inputs from IANS)