Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein was shifted from Itanagar after his house was torched. (Above) People protesting in Itanagar. (Photo: Yuvraj Mehta/IndiaToday)

Protesters in Arunachal Pradesh have burnt down the bungalow of Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein as anger and unrest continues against the state government in Itanagar.

Chowna Mein was moved out from state capital Itanagar and shifted to Namsai district early Sunday morning.

Besides this, protesters also torched and vandalised residences of the district commissioner. A superintendent of police-rank officer has also been injured.

Photo: Yuvraj Mehta/IndiaToday

SCALE OF PROTEST

Arunachal Pradesh has been tense since Friday evening when a person was killed in police firing. People have been protesting against the recommendations of a panel appointed by the state government regarding issuing permanent residence certificate (PRC) to some communities who have been living in the state for decades but are not its natives.

#WATCH Permanent residence certificate row: Violence broke out in Itanagar during protests against state’s decision to grant permanent resident certificates to non-#ArunachalPradesh Scheduled Tribes of Namsai & Chanaglang; Deputy CM Chowna Mein's private house also vandalised. pic.twitter.com/FrcmqWbL8c ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2019

On Friday evening, angry protesters burnt 50 cars and damaged 100 others. At least five theaters were gutted in Itanagar. A music band from nagaland that was participating in a film festival was attacked and its car and instruments torched.

The Army has been called in and is carrying out flag marches in Itanagar.

Photo: Yuvraj Mehta/IndiaToday

The Union Home Ministry on Saturday said home minister Rajnath Singh has spoken to the chief minister and took stock of the situation. He appealed to the people to maintain peace in the state.

Meanwhile, as precautionary measures, authorities have suspended internet services in Itanagar and imposed a curfew.

WHAT HAS GOVT PANEL RECOMMENDED

After holding parleys with the stakeholders, the Joint High Power Committee formed by the state government, has recommended granting permanent resident certificates to six communities, who are not natives of Arunachal Pradesh but have been living in Namsai and Changlang districts of Arunachal Pradesh for decades.

The proposals have evoked resentment among several community-based groups and students' organisations, who claimed that the rights and the interests of indigenous people will be compromised if the state government accepts it.

AMID PROTEST, GOVT SAYS NO CHANGE IN PRC

Meanwhile, taking note of the protests in the state, the Arunachal Pradesh government has announced that it will not change the law for grant of permanent resident certificate to non-native communities.

The government in a statement said: "Considering the present situation in respect of the matter pertaining to grant PRC to non-APST residents of Namsai and Changlang districts, the state government has decided that no further action shall be taken in respect of grant of PRC."

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