Sadiya, Oct 24: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, on Saturday, condemned the violence in Pasighat over the proposed 11,200-MW Upper Siang Multipurpose Project (SUMP), urging protesters to abandon shutdowns and resolve their concerns through dialogue.
Reiterating that the government’s doors remained open for negotiations, Khandu said the project would proceed only with public consensus and invited all stakeholders to engage in discussions.
“Our offices and homes will always remain open. Question your government and clear the confusion and fear in your minds. Instead of going for bandhs, we must find a solution through round-table talks,” Khandu told the press.
“I have been saying from Day 1 that you have the right to protest in a democracy. But there is a limit to exercising this right. Calling a bandh is not the solution. All stakeholders who want to discuss SUMP are welcome to visit us,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the government had repeatedly attempted to reach out to local communities and invite them to meetings, but some stakeholders had not attended.
He alleged that certain groups were trying to keep the situation volatile, adding that this is not conducive to a democratic resolution.
“Call us anywhere, be it Itanagar or Pasighat. I will come with the concerned departments. We will talk, and I have been repeating that this project will go forward only with public consensus,” Khandu said.
His remarks came after violence broke out in Pasighat, East Siang district, on Friday night, following a 12-hour bandh called by organisations opposing the proposed dam.
While the shutdown remained peaceful during the day, incidents of arson and vandalism were reported after the bandh period ended, the Chief Minister said.
Khandu also confirmed that residential complexes linked to MLAs Ninong Ering and Oni Panyang, and Arunachal Pradesh BJP president Kaling Moyong, were ransacked.
Reports said the unrest continued until around 4 am on Saturday. Protesters allegedly set fire to the NHPC office, Pasighat Police Station and seven police vehicles.
The violence followed tensions over police action against protesters at Dite-Dime, near Geku in Siang district, on Friday morning.
At least four women were injured after police fired tear gas shells to disperse a crowd during the bandh and were taken to hospital for treatment.
According to police, around 150–200 protesters from Geku and Komkar in Upper Siang district had gathered at Dite-Dime around 7 am.
Siang Superintendent of Police Kamdam Sikhom said the protesters allegedly attempted to damage barricades and police vehicles, pelted security personnel with stones and violated prohibitory orders.
He said lawful action was initiated in the presence of an executive magistrate after an announcement.
Meanwhile, Arunachal Pradesh Police have also dismissed social media claims that a young woman had died after being hit by tear gas, describing the reports as “fake news”.
The bandh was called by several organisations, including Adi Bane Kebang United, the SUMP Affected Area Youth Association, the Siang Indigenous Farmers’ Forum Youth Wing and the Adi Galo Welfare Society.
Their demands include the release of 10 detained activists, reinstatement of suspended gaon buras (village headmen), withdrawal of pre-feasibility activities and removal of central security forces deployed in the region.
The proposed project, for which NHPC has been entrusted with preparatory work, has faced sustained opposition from sections of local communities over concerns about ancestral land, livelihoods, the environment and indigenous rights.
The state government has highlighted its potential role in water storage and management in the Siang basin, amid concerns over China’s planned hydropower project upstream on the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet.
On October 13, Khandu had agreed in principle to reduce security deployment in the Siang Valley and withdraw FIRs registered in connection with the protests.
The project remains at the preliminary investigation and pre-feasibility stage, with tensions continuing over security deployment, public consultation and the concerns of affected communities.