Anti-dam protests in Arunachal Pradesh have intensified, spreading from the Siang basin into the Subansiri valley. On Monday, a 12-hour bandh called by student unions, including the All Tagin Students’ Union, turned violent in Daporijo, the administrative headquarters of the Upper Subansiri district. The agitation, directed against the proposed 1,605MW Subansiri Upper Hydroelectric Project, specifically the Menga dam, resulted in significant property damage and injuries to security officials.
According to local authorities, demonstrators damaged equipment belonging to the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), as well as one company vehicle and two police vehicles. During the ensuing confrontation, two security personnel, including a constable-driver identified as Hibu Lasha and a member of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), sustained injuries. Upper Subansiri Superintendent of Police Pawan Kumar Yadav confirmed that both individuals were transported to Ziro for medical treatment. In response to the unrest, police conducted a flag march through Daporijo to maintain order and issued an appeal for peace.
The current cycle of protests began at 5:00 am, initially spurred by opposition to the proposed dam project and reports regarding the alleged attempt to detain the president of the All Tagin Students’ Union, Tadak Pakba. The movement has gained support from various community groups and student organisations within the Subansiri basin, who have expressed deep concerns regarding the potential impact of large-scale infrastructure on their ancestral land, local livelihoods, and future development.
This escalation follows a period of significant unrest in the East Siang district. Earlier, protesters in that region engaged in arson, vandalism, and clashes with security forces during a siege of the district headquarters. That agitation was aimed at the proposed 11,200 MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP), which includes a planned reservoir near Geku village, located approximately 35 kilometers downstream from the district headquarters of Yingkiong.
The Siang and Subansiri river basins are inhabited by the Adi and Tagin communities, who are described as closely related. Tensions remain high in Upper Siang, where activists are demanding the immediate release of individuals arrested during the previous protests, as well as the release of four activists currently held under preventive detention. Furthermore, demonstrators have formally requested the withdrawal of central security forces from the affected areas and an immediate cessation of the pre-feasibility survey work for the hydroelectric projects.
Addressing the ongoing situation, Ashok Tajo, the Deputy Commissioner of Upper Siang, stated that the government is currently reviewing the legal cases involving the detained individuals. However, he noted that the formal release of those in custody remains subject to further administrative approvals. Addressing the demand for the removal of central forces, Tajo explained that any such decision would be contingent upon the restoration of peace in the region.
As the standoff continues, the local administration has expressed a willingness to bridge the gap between the agitators and the government. Deputy Commissioner Tajo has urged the protesting villagers to nominate formal representatives to initiate a dialogue, emphasizing that the authorities are ready to facilitate discussions to address the residents' concerns. For now, the region remains on edge as stakeholders navigate the competing demands of infrastructure development and community opposition.
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