Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh — A massive mashaal (torch) rally lit up the streets of Itanagar this week as thousands of indigenous youths from the Northeast marched together, protesting comments and perceptions about their identity and sovereignty. The demonstration, organised by local youth organisations, conveyed a firm message of unity and pride in the face of external narratives that some Northeastern citizens say paint them as “Chinese” or outsiders within their own country.

The rally began in the evening and wound through major thoroughfares before culminating near the Tennis Court area of the state capital. Participants carried torches and chanted slogans emphasizing the territorial integrity of India’s Northeastern states, and their commitment to defending their land and culture. Organisers said the march was a response to remarks and rumours circulating on social media and certain political commentaries, which they felt undermined the region’s place within India.

Groups behind the march, including the Arunachal Pradesh Indigenous Youth Organisation (APIYO) and allied bodies, reiterated longstanding concerns over illegal immigration and perceived threats to indigenous land rights and social identity. Many speakers highlighted the Northeast’s strategic geographical position, bordering China, Myanmar and Bhutan, and framed the rally as both a call for respect and a plea for stronger national security measures.

The event remained largely peaceful, though highly charged, as participants carried placards and raised their voices in solidarity. Observers said the turnout was one of the largest recent demonstrations in the state, reinforcing a broad regional determination to contest stereotypes and assert the Northeast’s integral role in India’s cultural and geopolitical fabric.

Reported by Neha Jaiswal.