Land rights group fights Arunachal Pradesh dam project

Guwahati: The Bhumi Adhikar Joutha Sangram Samiti condemned the use of force against anti-dam protesters in Arunachal Pradesh. It demanded the immediate release of four arrested local leaders and the total cancellation of the 11,000-megawatt Siang Upper Multipurpose Project. Committee convenors Krishna Gogoi, Bidisha Barman, and Subrata Talukdar issued these demands on October 24.

Protesters staged a 12-hour bandh on October 23 across Siang, Upper Siang, and East Siang districts. Groups like the Adi Baane Kebang-United, the SUMP-Affected Areas Youth Council, and the youth wing of SIFF joined the call. The unrest stems from the state using the Arunachal Pradesh Unlawful Activities Prevention Act of 2014 to detain those opposing the dam. The committee stated, "the use of force against peaceful demonstrators was unacceptable in a democratic society."

Authorities continue survey work for the project Pre-Feasibility Report despite heavy pushback. Opponents claim the massive dam threatens the Himalayan ecosystem and risks displacing thousands of families from ancestral lands. They argue that indigenous livelihoods and cultural history take priority over geopolitical strategy. The committee now seeks accountability for officials who deployed tear gas against women and young people during the recent demonstrations.