Pasighat/Alive News: Protests against the proposed 11,200-megawatt Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) turned violent in Pasighat, East Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh, on Friday. Protesters allegedly vandalised government offices, two police stations and eight police vehicles, setting some of them on fire. The house of the BJP state president was also vandalised and looted, along with the homes of two legislators.
Several police personnel, including a deputy superintendent of police (DSP), were injured in stone-pelting during the violence. The incident followed growing opposition to the proposed dam, with local communities raising concerns about displacement, environmental damage and the possible submergence of villages.
Former Union minister and Pasighat West MLA Ninong Ering said that around 300–400 young protesters entered his house at about 2 am, damaged property and took away belongings. The homes of BJP state president Kaling Moyong and Mariyang-Geku MLA Oni Panyang were also targeted.
Police Fire Tear Gas as Violence Escalates
According to police, a 12-hour shutdown was called in the Siang, Upper Siang and East Siang districts on Friday. The situation reportedly worsened around 11 pm after the shutdown ended.
Earlier, around 150–200 protesters in Siang district allegedly tried to cross barricades and damage vehicles. An office of a prominent organisation representing the Adi community was also vandalised.
Police said some protesters carried sticks, weapons and slingshots and threw stones at security personnel. The police responded by firing tear-gas shells. Protesters, however, alleged that the police used tear gas and baton charges against young people who were demonstrating peacefully.
Why Is the Siang Dam Project Facing Opposition?
The proposed 11,200-megawatt Siang Upper Multipurpose Project is planned on the Siang River in Arunachal Pradesh. The project is intended, among other objectives, to help manage water flows from China and reduce flood risks in the region.
The river originates in Tibet, where it is known as the Yarlung Tsangpo. After entering Arunachal Pradesh, it is called the Siang before becoming part of the Brahmaputra in Assam.
China is also building a 60,000-megawatt hydropower project on the river in Tibet. India has expressed concerns about the possible impact on downstream water flows and the risk of sudden water releases. In April 2022, the Ministry of Jal Shakti asked NHPC to prepare a preliminary feasibility report for the proposed project.
Adi Community Raises Concerns Over Displacement
Opposition to technical surveys for the project grew stronger in 2025. Members of the Adi community, which has strong cultural and spiritual ties to the Siang River, have raised concerns about the project’s possible impact on villages, livelihoods and the environment.
The Siang Indigenous Farmers Forum has claimed that the project could submerge 27 villages and affect several others. The group has also alleged that survey work is being carried out without the consent of local residents.
The proposed dam has become a major point of conflict between the government’s concerns over water security and flood management and the local community’s fears of displacement, loss of livelihoods and damage to its cultural heritage.
