Our Bureau
Itanagar
Protests against the proposed 11,200 MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) in Arunachal Pradesh turned violent in Pasighat, with demonstrators allegedly setting fire to the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) office and a police station, vandalising political leaders’ residences and torching several vehicles. More than 40 police personnel were reportedly injured during clashes, prompting authorities to deploy additional security forces and impose restrictions on gatherings.
The violence on Friday night followed a confrontation earlier in the day at Dite-Dime, where police fired tear gas shells to disperse anti-dam protesters enforcing a 12-hour shutdown. At least four women were injured and taken to hospital following the incident.
The shutdown was called by several organisations opposing the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project. The proposed project, being pursued by NHPC, is planned on the Siang River and is expected to have a capacity of around 11,200 MW. It is viewed strategically as a countermeasure to China’s planned mega-dam development on the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet, which flows into India as the Siang before becoming the Brahmaputra downstream.