Arunachal backtracks on permanent residency move

Itanagar: The Arunachal Pradesh government on Sunday froze its decision on the controversial permanent residence certificate (PRC) that triggered widespread violence for a third day, leading to the torching of the Deputy Chief Minister's house.

A worried Chief Minister Pema Khandu convened an all-party meeting on Sunday night to discuss the prevailing situation which Home Minister Kumar Waii described as "very tense and uncontrollable".

The Arunachal Pradesh government climbed down in the face of the violent protests and declared that it will not implement the report granting PRC to six communities living along the Assam-Arunachal border.

On Sunday, a mob set fire to the house of Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein.

Security forces resorted to blank firing as the unruly protesters defied curfew and marched towards the Chief Minister's residence.