Naharlagun, Aug. 23: The Arunachal Pradesh Assembly today passed the controversial Arunachal Pradesh Control of Organised Crimes Bill 2002 by voice vote. The Mukut Mithi-headed Congress government introduced the Bill.
The Bill will now be taken up by Governor Arvind Dave for approval.
The Bill, to cover a period of 10 years, includes several provisions for preventive detention of suspected militants without bail. It also makes confessions to senior police officers admissible as legal evidence during court trials.
“After being passed, the Arunachal Pradesh Control of Organised Crimes Act, 2002 will replace the Arunachal Pradesh Control of Organised Crimes Bill. The Act will serve as a potent legal instrument to fight crime and terrorism in the state,” said Mithi, while moving the Bill for consideration in the House.
He said that as no other law including POTA had provisions to deal with nefarious, anti-social and anti-national activities of militant outfits and organised crimes in the state, APCOCA was the need of the hour.
The chief minister said the schedule of the POTA does not name the NSCN, active in the Tirap and Changlang district of the state.
Mithi assured the House that the Act would not be misused against political opponents, voluntary organisations and students’ organisations. “I assure the House that this Act will not be misused against anyone but will used only as a legal instrument to fight against crimes and terrorism,” he said.
He also allayed Congress legislator L. Wanglat’s fear that political leaders of the insurgency, including several sitting members of the House who were once booked under TADA, could be arrested that under Section 18 of the Bill. Mithi said, “Our prime concern is to ensure an environment free from fear, intimidation and extortion for the citizens.”
Itanagar bandh
Normal life was paralysed today by the 12-hour bandh called by the All-Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) in protest against the Arunachal Pradesh Control of Organised Crimes Bill 2002.
Barring a few stray incidents of stone pelting, the bandh passed off peacefully. Schools and colleges, banks and other financial institutions, postal and telecommunication offices and most shops remained closed in Itanagar and the adjoining areas. “Vehicles remained off the roads and everything was closed,” a police spokesman said. Nearly 75 AAPSU activists have been detained as a precautionary measure.
Attendance was thin in all the state government offices, including the state secretariat. However, official sources claimed that government offices functioned normally. The supporters of the bandh pelted stones at a police vehicle in Papu Nallah. The two officers in the vehicle escaped unhurt.
