Arunachal Pradesh’s government is pushing forward with the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project, a 11,200‑MW hydropower scheme that critics say threatens local ecosystems and the rights of indigenous communities. The project, touted as a water‑management solution amid fears of a Chinese mega‑dam upstream, has sparked fierce opposition in the Siang district.
At roughly 7 a.m. on Friday, around 150–200 demonstrators gathered in Dite‑Dime, Geku, carrying machetes, lathis and slingshots. SP Kamdam Sikhom reported that the crowd attempted to vandalise police barricades and hurled stones at officers, prompting law enforcers to fire tear gas shells. Four women were badly hurt, rushed to the nearest hospital, and later admitted for treatment.
Violence spilled over into East Siang at Mebo, where protesters hurled stones near Ranaghat Bridge. Police once again lobbed tear gas, injuring several more people and damaging at least seven vehicles. The bandh, called by a coalition of local organisations including the Adi Bane Kebang United and the Siang Indigenous Farmers' Forum, was observed peacefully elsewhere in the district.
A viral clip on social media shows police firing tear gas at an assembly of speakers, further inflaming tensions. The footage has already been shared by thousands of users, sparking online debate and calls for investigative action.
In response, the Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee’s spokesperson, Kon Jirjo Jotham, demanded an independent inquiry into the tear‑gas use and called for the release of detained youths. Chief Minister Pema Khandu, who met with youth wings on October 13, pledged to drop FIRs, release detainees and reduce security deployment while maintaining the project’s approval.
The state government has scheduled a meeting with community leaders for next week to discuss the protesters’ grievances and outline a path forward, signalling a potential shift in the project’s trajectory.