Arunachal Pradesh Demolishes Illegal Mosque in Ziro, Upholds Tribal Land Laws

• Arunachal Pradesh government ordered the demolition of an illegal mosque at Suluya (Old Ziro) on January 21, 2026, after it was found to be unauthorised.
• The structure lacked proper land ownership documents, statutory approvals, and violated tribal land and Inner Line Permit (ILP) regulations.
• The demolition followed protests and a 24-hour bandh by indigenous communities, including the Arunachal ST Bachao Andolan Committee, demanding action against encroachments.
• This action aligns with Chief Minister Pema Khandu’s directive against unauthorised religious structures, particularly in the Itanagar Capital Region.
• The government emphasizes zero tolerance for illegal encroachments, asserting that tribal laws and land protections are non-negotiable.

Why It Matters: Arunachal Pradesh is enforcing strict tribal land laws, demolishing illegal religious structures to protect indigenous rights.