Automobile showroom owners demand compensation for damages

ITANAGAR, Mar 3: The Arunachal Motor Vehicles Dealers Association (AMVDA) has urged the governor to direct the state government to compensate for the damages caused to the automobile showrooms in the capital complex during the recent anti-PRC agitation.
The association said the dealers’ showrooms, most of which are located in Lekhi, were stoned by protestors without any reason, causing damages to the glass panels and retrofitted accessories.
Members of the association on Sunday held a meeting to discuss and assess the extent of damages and losses caused to automobile showrooms during the agitation. The meeting was attended by all the automobile showroom owners of the capital complex.
They said they would submit a report to the state government, detailing the losses and the damages caused during the agitation for grant of compensation at the earliest.
They also threatened to take “democratic steps” if their demand is not fulfilled.
The members flayed the district administration for its “very poor” management and non-responsive attitude during the agitation.
“Neither the district administration nor the security forces could be contacted by the owners despite repeated attempts,” the AMVDA said in its representation to the governor.
“Most of the members tried their best to contact the magistrate on duty and police personnel for timely intervention. But no prompt action had been initiated, which led to damage of the properties,” it said.
Expressing dismay over the poor security arrangement and “complete failure” of the capital administration during the agitation period, the association claimed that no preparatory work or meeting was convened by district administration after the bandh call had been announced.
It expressed condolences to the bereaved families of the three youths who lost their lives in police firing during the agitation.
The association also expressed solidarity with the owners and tenants of the commercial complexes, showrooms and shopping malls whose properties have been damaged.
While condemning the destructive activities of the miscreants, the association demanded that the culprits involved in the incidents be brought to book and given fitting punishment under appropriate section(s) of the law.