Sadiya, Sept 4: The All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) on Friday demanded immediate suspension of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Chakma-Hajong inhabited areas and places with Chakma-Hajong voters following violence during protests at Bordumsa in Changlang district. “Our clear-cut demand to the Arunachal government is the immediate suspension of the SIR exercise across Chakma-Hajong inhabited areas and places with Chakma-Hajong voters,” AAPSU president Meje Taku said while addressing press after a meeting post violence.

Taku said an AAPSU activist was injured during the violence and claimed that members of the students’ body had been attacked. “All have already witnessed on social media how AAPSU leaders were attacked by refugees on Friday, especially by Chakma and Hajong.

SIR is a regular process of the ECI and we had just gone to attend that,” AAPSU general secretary said. The students’ body has also called for a meeting of organisations, political parties, social organisations, unions and branch student unions on September 12 at DK Hall to discuss the situation, adopt a final resolution and decide its next course of action.

“Now the government of Arunachal has to answer us for Chakma and Hajong issue, refugees, illegal immigrants and for the interest of the indigenous people of the state,” Taku said. Taku said the organisation had constituted an SIR committee a few months ago, headed by its vice-president, to monitor the revision process across Arunachal Pradesh.

He said committee members visited different parts of the state on Friday and the process remained peaceful except at Bordumsa. “No one can dictate to the indigenous people of Arunachal Pradesh.

We will decide who can stay in this state. We have suffered for a long time; we will no longer suffer more.

We will retaliate,” he added. AAPSU’s statements came after tension prevailed in Bordumsa during protests over the ongoing SIR hearing process at the office of the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC).

Members of AAPSU, the Bordumsa Students’ Union and other organisations had gathered to protest the alleged inclusion of members of the Chakma community in the SIR process. The situation later escalated, with reports of clashes and firing in the area.

The identity of those who allegedly opened fire and the circumstances leading to the firing have not yet been established. An AAPSU leader was also reportedly injured in a machete attack during the unrest, further escalating tensions.