Photo Courtesy: nenow
Itanagar: Delhi Police arrested several students and activists Saturday outside Arunachal Bhawan. The protest targeted the proposed 11,200-megawatt Siang Upper Multipurpose Project in Arunachal Pradesh. Organizers Himkhand and Youth for Change rallied against the dam. They demand the removal of Central Armed Police Forces from the state and the release of all detained demonstrators.
Police broke up the gathering after just 15 minutes. Witnesses say officers used excessive force during the sweep. Demonstrators specifically claim activist Katon Moyong, also known as Aborman, suffered manhandling by officers. Others remain in custody at the Baba Haridas Nagar police station near the Delhi-Haryana border. Some were moved to Chanakyapuri police station before their release.
Claims of abuse emerged from inside a transport bus. One Himkhand member recorded a video detailing the treatment of those seized. The member stated, "several demonstrators had been beaten and subjected to inappropriate physical contact." The group alleges officers forced detainees to sign forms under Section 35(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. They further claim that police refused to disclose where they were taking captives, scattering them to the city outskirts.
Opponents of the Pema Khandu-led BJP government project fear widespread displacement. Groups like Adi Bane Kebang United and the Siang Indigenous Farmers' Forum warn of ancestral land loss. The region sits on a seismically active fault line. Tensions spiked following violent clashes in Pasighat last week where police deployed tear gas. Delhi Police did not respond to requests for comment regarding the assault allegations.
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