Two more die in firing, protesters torch Arunachal Pradesh deputy CM's house

GUWAHATI: Protests in Arunachal Pradesh's Capital Complex against a BJP government-appointed panel's recommendation to grant residence certificates to six non-indigenous communities spiralled out of control on Sunday, with agitators setting deputy chief minister Chowna Mein's private residence on fire. Since Friday, when the stir took a violent turn, four protesters have been killed in firing by security forces.
On Sunday, defying curfew, thousands of protesters took to the streets and went on the rampage. They burnt down a shopping complex owned by forest minister Nabam Rebia, who heads the panel at the centre of the controversy, ransacked the deputy commissioner's office, vandalized the Itanagar police station and attempted to storm chief minister Pema Khandu's official residence.

Hundreds of agitators have now laid siege to the state Capital Complex - Itanagar, Naharlagun, Nirjuli and Doimukh. Internet services in the state remain suspended for three days now.

Immediately after protests had taken a violent turn on Friday, Khandu had clarified that there was no plan to implement the recommendations of the panel but only to table it for a "wider discussion" in the assembly. The protesters did not relent. The assembly was adjourned sine die on Saturday.

On Sunday, Arunachal Pradesh chief secretary Satya Gopal issued an official statement: "Considering the present situation in respect to the matter pertaining to the grant of PRC to non-Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribe of Namsai and Changlang districts, the state government decided no further action shall be taken in respect of the grant of PRC." Union minister Kiren Rijiju, an MP from the state, also said the state government has decided to not accept the recommendations.

Despite these assurances, the protesters have said the agitation will come to an end only when both the chief minister and the deputy chief minister step down. The Army was called in on Saturday, hours after the first death by police firing was reported, and staged flag marches at Naharlagun and other violence-hit areas.