ES News Desk

ITANAGAR, Jul 25: The Itanagar Capital District Administration today  dispersed the public who had gathered for a social service called by the Pan Arunachal Joint Steering Committee (PAJSC) for the proposed construction of ‘Statue of Honesty’ to honour late Gyamar Padang on the Itanagar-Naharlagun highway at 6-Kilo near here on Tuesday.
The Itanagar District Magistrate (DM) on July 24 alleged that Pan Arunachal Joint Steering Committee is trying to grab the government property for the construction of whistle-blower Gyamar Padang's statue. 
''Joint Steering Committee and others are trying to grab the government property without authority and permission from the competent authority which is illegal and unlawful activity as prohibited under the law,'' DM said in an order date July 25.
The DM also acknowledged that Techi Puru, Chairman, PAN Arunachal Joint Steering Committee, and others have submitted an application to this office on July 24 seeking an update on the representation dated 3rd May regarding permission to construct the "Statue of Honesty" as a tribute to their hero Gyamar Padang at 6 Kilo near Vegetable Vendors adjacent to NH-415.
The DM further asked the committee to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Highway Department, since the area proposed for the programme/ construction of the statute falls within the jurisdiction of Highway Authorities,'' the order said.
''The representation dated 3rd May 2023 submitted to this office for construction of 'Statue of Honesty as a tribute to Padang was already submitted to the Government for further decision,'' the order read.
The DM said that before holding any programme; prior permission is to be obtained from the District Administration for making various arrangements viz. traffic/magistrate/police deployment to avoid inconvenience to the general public.
''Arunachal Joint Steering Committee through social media has instigated the general public to participate in the social service with an ill intention to grab the government property without consent from the competent authority which is illegal and unlawful activity as prohibited under the law,'' it added.
Deputy Commissioner Talo Potom on Tuesday issued an order to detain Pan Arunachal Joint Steering Committee (PAJSC) Chairman Techi Puru for 12 days for instigating the public and to prevent the illegal possession of government property under Arunachal Pradesh Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Speaking to the reporters, a PAJSC member said that the social service could not be conducted following the  APUAPA order issued by the Deputy Commissioner Talo Potom. However, he said that PAJSC in consultation with the family members of Padang will see for the next favourable date for the social service. In the meantime, the committee will also meet the highway authority soon to seek a no objection certificate.
He also said that the DC should have earlier informed the committee of his objection to the proposed social service. The last moment announcement and enforcing the APUAPA against the well-wishers of late Padang was not necessary.
“The people who gathered today were the well-wishers of late Padang. Moreover, it was his last wish that his statue be built so as to remind the youths to fight against corruption. Now, the DC has taken the matter to an extreme level by terming the social service as illegal and imposing 144 CrPC,” he said, adding that if so, the DC should have told the committee at the time of submission of a letter seeking permission for the programme.
Meanwhile, the brother of late Padang said that the social service was also to remind the state government of the contribution of the late whistleblower.The family and the PAJSC want the state government to honor it and accordingly allot the area for the construction of the statue.
“We want the state government to appreciate the contribution of Padang in action and not in words. Our family has lots of things to apprise the public about my brother but due to various domestic issues following his demise, the family could not come to the media to interact,” he said.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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