4 hurt in Siang dam stir clash during bandh against hydropower project

At least four women were injured in a clash between police and protesters during a 12-hour bandh against the proposed 11,200 MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) at Dite-Dime near Geku in Arunachal Pradesh’s Upper Siang district.

The bandh in the Siang Valley escalated tensions in the region. The clash erupted around 7am at Dite-Dime, which connects Siang and Upper Siang districts, when protesters tried to break through police barricades. The police resorted to firing tear gas shells, injuring four women protesters from Geku. They were admitted to a hospital in Geku.

The police said the protesters had violated prohibitory orders and attempted to vandalise police barricades.

The bandh, called by the Adi Bane Kebang United, SUMP Affected Area Youth Association, Siang Indigenous Farmers’ Forum Youth Wing and Adi Galo Welfare Society, affected East Siang, Siang and Upper Siang districts.

The protesters demanded the release of detained anti-dam activists and the withdrawal of security forces deployed in the Siang Valley for the project’s pre-feasibility study, among other things.

Reports from Itanagar said tension prevailed in Pasighat, the headquarters of East Siang district, following a clash between youths and police over the SUMP issue on Friday evening.

The Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) demanded an independent inquiry into the use of tear gas against protesters during the bandh.

APCC spokesperson Kon Jirjo Jotham said the incident at Dite-Dime raised concerns about the handling of public dissent and alleged that the government failed to fulfil assurances on the release of detained youths and the withdrawal of security forces.

The Congress also sought medical assistance for the injured and urged the state government to initiate dialogue with affected communities.

Protests have continued in Upper Siang district since September, with demonstrators demanding the release of detained anti-dam protesters, a halt to the project’s pre-feasibility study and the withdrawal of security forces.

Chief minister Pema Khandu has maintained that the proposed 11,200 MW dam, to be built by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation, would help counter the threat posed by a 60,000 MW dam being built on the upper reaches of the Siang river in China. The state government has shortlisted three sites — Parong, Ugeng and Dite-Dime — along the Siang, which is known as the Yarlung Tsangpo in China.

Khandu had to cut short his visit to Yingkiong in Upper Siang district last month because of the deteriorating law and order situation triggered by the protests.

Additional reporting by pPTI