States » EastPosted at: Oct 29 2026 10:39PM


Thousands join Itanagar rally, demand release of anti-Siang dam protesters, withdrawal of central forces

Itanagar, Oct 29 (UNI) Thousands of youths, students and members of various organisations took part in a solidarity rally in Itanagar on Thursday, extending support to people of Siang and Upper Siang districts opposing the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) and demanding the release of protesters detained in connection with the agitation.
Organised by Indigenous of Siang and Youth for Change, along with other organisations, the rally began at Akashdeep Complex and culminated at IG Park under the theme “One Arunachal. One People. One Voice.”
Carrying banners and placards and raising slogans against the proposed mega dam and the deployment of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel in the Siang belt, participants demanded the unconditional release of all detained protesters, withdrawal of cases registered against them and removal of central security forces from the region.
The demonstrators also urged the state government to address the concerns of affected communities through meaningful dialogue.
Addressing the gathering, Siang Indigenous Farmers’ Forum (SIFF) spokesperson Tagori Mize said those opposing SUMP should not be labelled anti-dam or anti-development activists, asserting that they were communities concerned about the potential impact of the proposed project on their land, culture and identity.
“We do want dams but not this big that will wipe out our culture entirely,” Mize said, reiterating that the movement was about protecting tribal rights and securing justice for affected communities.
Questioning the pre-feasibility report (PFR) process, Mize alleged that the government had already decided to go ahead with the project and claimed that affected people had not been adequately consulted by the government or local leaders.
He also referred to a government decision concerning the proposed shifting of Yingkiong and Geku towns as grounds for questioning whether the project’s outcome had already been decided.
Arunachal Pradesh Women’s Welfare Society (APWWS) president Jarjum G Ete called on young people to choose capable leaders and acknowledged the support extended by women during the SUMP agitation.
Referring to the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023, Ete raised concerns over the implications of provisions relating to areas near international borders and strategic projects.
She argued that such provisions could limit the role of traditional community institutions, including Gram Sabhas and Kebangs, in decisions affecting indigenous communities.
Ete also expressed concern over the deployment of security forces in the Siang region, describing it as an affront to tribal dignity and identity. She urged the state and Central governments to reconsider the proposed project, arguing that the potential impact on the region’s culture and communities needed to be weighed alongside national security considerations.
Arunachal Frontier Tribal Front (AFTF) chairman Tadak Nalo questioned Chief Minister Pema Khandu’s claim regarding a proposed 60,000-MW dam on the Chinese side of the border.
He asked how such information had been obtained when, according to him, Chinese authorities did not publicly disclose details of the alleged project.
Nalo also questioned whether the proposed 11,000-MW Siang dam could regulate water flows from such an upstream project and raised concerns about the safety of the proposed structure in the event of a dam failure upstream. He called for the release of all detained protesters and urged the authorities to address the matter.
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Tags: #Thousands join Itanagar rally# demand release of anti-Siang dam protesters# withdrawal of central forces
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