Arunachal Youth Group Slams CBI Probe Into Activist Bhanu Tatak

Itanagar: The Siang Indigenous Farmers’ Forum Youth Wing slammed the Central Bureau of Investigation for targeting activist Bhanu Tatak. The agency opened a case against the Arunachal Pradesh lawyer on August 20. They claim she violated the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act. Federal agents allege she funneled 20.94 lakh rupees into her Roing State Bank of India account between 2022 and 2025. Investigators claim this foreign cash funded protests against the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project and the Dibang Multipurpose Hydropower Project.

The youth group fired back in a September 16 statement. They claim the state is punishing Tatak for defending ancestral lands and river rights. The organization rejected the criminal charges as a calculated move to break community solidarity. They described the move as a "clear attempt at harassment" meant to silence opposition. The group insisted that Tatak remains a vital voice for the Abor land.

Villagers across the Siang and Upper Siang districts support the legal adviser. They demanded the CBI drop the case immediately. Tatak denies all wrongdoing. She says she is cooperating with officials as the investigation continues. Authorities have yet to prove the claims laid out in the official FIR.