The AAMSU blockade on Thursday. Picture by Eastern Projections

Itanagar, Sept. 18: The blockade on National Highway 52 in Arunachal Pradesh was lifted within two hours of being clamped after officials intervened but that was enough time for minority activists to smash two cars and assault the passengers.

The All Assam Minority Students Union (AAMSU), which has been protesting against the anti-migrant drive by two Arunachal Pradesh student unions, had yesterday promised to cripple the state’s lifeline if “unnecessary and unlawful harassment” of minorities was not stopped immediately.

Around 10.30 this morning, hundreds of AAMSU activists laid siege on Banderdewa checkgate, the main entry point to Arunachal Pradesh, bringing traffic to a halt. Trouble began when a mob intercepted a car at Laluk in Lakhimpur, bordering Aru-nachal Pradesh, and began assaulting the passengers.

Toko Radha and Toko Takar, both contractors, along with R. Magum, an engineer with Central Public Works Department, escaped with minor injuries. They were on their way to Itanagar from Yazali in Lower Subansiri.

Near Harmati, another group blocked one more car, asked the passengers to get off and smashed the windows.

Soon after the attacks, members of the All Nyishi Students Union (ANSU) and the All Papum Pare District Students Union (APPDSU), which had been running the anti-migrant campaign, rushed to the spot.

Hibu Tamang, the superintendent of police of Papum Pare, which borders Lakhimpur in Assam, said additional forces were deployed at Banderdewa and Kimin checkgates to arrest further attacks.

“Police had to resort to a lathicharge to disperse the mob. A few troublemongers from Assam and Arunachal Pradesh sustained injuries. We have made elaborate security arrangements with deployment of additional police forces from Itanagar and Banderdewa. The situation is under control now,” Tamang said.

Soon after the attacks, district officials from Papum Pare and Lakhimpur played peacemaker between the warring students’ unions.

They arranged for a meeting between the All Nyishi Students Union and AAMSU, and ensured that the blockade was lifted at 12.30pm.