MAHADEVPUR, Feb 22: Hundreds of people from the Moran community in Lekang staged a protest at Dirak Gate on Saturday, blocking the national highway and burning tyres while demanding Permanent Residential Certificate (PRC). The demonstrators also expressed outrage against arrest warrants issued for members of the Moran Students' Union (MSU).
Shouting slogans and holding placards, the protesters stormed the local police station in Mahadevpur  in protest against the warrants issued to MSU members. However, security personnel, including police and paramilitary forces, managed to prevent the agitation from escalating further.
Speaking to the media, MSU member Hurojit Moran stated that the demand for PRC is not new. "Due to the lack of PRC, many members of our community are deprived of government benefits, whether it is employment opportunities or welfare schemes from the state and central government," he said.
He also clarified that their demand for PRC is specifically for the Moran community members who have been part of Arunachal Pradesh since before the creation of NEFA. "We have not migrated from any other part of the country. We have lived here since time immemorial," he asserted.
Regarding the community’s decision to boycott the recent 39th Statehood Day celebrations, Moran said, "We are very much Arunachalees and want to participate. But when the government does not recognize us as its citizens, how can we celebrate? Grant us our rights, and we will observe the day with pride."
Another member of the Moran community vowed that their protest would continue until a prominent government official addressed their concerns and assured them of their PRC rights. "We will not back down until our demand is met," he stated.
Earlier, on Friday last the apex student body of the state All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union has demanded the arrest of individuals who disrupted the peaceful celebration of 39th Statehood Day at Mahadevapur. AAPSU has also issued caution that, non-APST will not get PRC in the state of Arunachal Pradesh. 

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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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