Deputy CM's residence set afire, bid to attack CM house in Arunachal Pradesh, curfew continues

Correspondent

NewsBits.in

ITANAGAR/GUWAHATI: Unprecedented anger was witnessed on the streets of Itanagar, the capital of Arunchal Pradesh, over a state government's plan to give permanent residence status to six tribes. 

Such was the mob anger that the deputy chief minister's house was torched while there was an attempt to target the residence of chief minister as well. Angry youths remained on the streets and violence continued for the third day. 

There was large-scale arson and attacks on vehicles. This included attacks on government offices, police and fire stations. At least, two people lost their lives in the clashes. The scale of violence has prompted the government to shelve the plan to give permanent residence status. 

According to reports, the government planned to give the status to six tribes and Gorkhas who don't belong to Arunachal. After the clashes, the state government has scrapped the plan. Earlier, house of deputy chief minister Chowna Mein's house was attacked and burnt.

The policemen had to fight pitched battles on the streets when protesters tried to attack chief minister Prema Khandu's house. Additional companies of ITBP and army have been deployed in the state to control the situation. Curfew continues in Itanagar in view of the tense situation.