Violent Clashes Erupt in Arunachal Pradesh Over Siang Dam Project
1-Click Audio Report (Universal Voice)
Tensions escalated in Arunachal Pradesh's Upper Siang district near the China border as massive protests erupted against a proposed multi-purpose dam project, leading to violent clashes between indigenous demonstrators and security forces.
- Indigenous groups in Upper Siang staged intense protests opposing a massive hydro dam project near the China border.
- At least six women were seriously injured as security forces fired tear gas shells to disperse protesters.
- Activists demand the unconditional release of detained leaders and an immediate halt to pre-feasibility survey work.
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Tensions reached a boiling point in the Upper Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh near the China border, where indigenous residents clashed with joint security forces over a contested mega-dam project. The state government deployed police and paramilitary personnel to enforce order, but violent confrontations erupted on Friday. Eyewitnesses reported that several tear gas canisters struck demonstrators directly, leaving at least six women seriously injured and causing widespread respiratory distress.
A coalition of tribal bodies, including the Adi Bane Kebang and the youth wing of the Siang Indigenous Farmers Forum, had earlier called for a comprehensive 12-hour shutdown across Siang, Upper Siang, and East Siang districts. The protesters put forth four major demands: the immediate release of 10 detained activists, the reinstatement of suspended traditional village heads, an outright halt to all pre-feasibility survey works for the dam, and the complete withdrawal of paramilitary forces from the region.
Law enforcement authorities presented a different account of the clash. Siang Superintendent of Police Kamdam Sikom stated that between 150 and 200 protesters had gathered illegally at the Dite-Dime area, prompting an intervention under the supervision of an executive magistrate. Police claimed they were forced to deploy tear gas to maintain public order after crowds refused to disperse. Clashes were also reported in Pasighat, where protesters retaliated and damaged several police vehicles.
The heavy-handed response from security forces has triggered widespread political fallout, with videos of tear gas being fired into crowds circulating rapidly across social media platforms. The Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee strongly condemned the crackdown and demanded an independent inquiry into police excesses. With local communities steadfastly refusing to sacrifice their land and heritage for large-scale infrastructure, the strategic border state faces lingering unrest.
“Pushing large infrastructural projects in sensitive border territories without grassroots consensus risks alienating indigenous populations. Relying on security forces instead of addressing land and environmental grievances could escalate into prolonged regional instability.”
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