Pasighat: More than 2,500 Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and Assam Police personnel have been deployed across Arunachal Pradesh’s Siang belt amid protests against the proposed 11,200 MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP).As many as 30 companies of CAPF, including four companies of the Rapid Action Force (RAF), have been deployed across Siang, Upper Siang and East Siang districts where the anti-dam protestors are opposing the project proposed to be built on Siang river, around 320 km from the China border.“By Monday morning, CAPFs, including CRPF, ITBP, SSB, have been deployed to maintain law and order relating to SUMP in the three districts in addition to Assam Police battalions,” Hibu Tamang, inspector general of police, Central Range, told TOI.The security build-up has come after arson and violence by a ‘Gen Z’ mob in Pasighat between Friday and Saturday morning. The protesters were opposing the compilation of a pre-feasibility report for the project, which has been projected as a strategic counter to China’s 60,000 MW dam across the Line of Actual Control (LAC).The mob attacked security personnel, injuring 40 of them, and set on fire an NHPC office. It also vandalised and looted the residences of Arunachal Pradesh BJP president Kaling Moyong and MLAs Ninong Ering and Oni Panyang.The deployment of 15 companies of CRPF includes four companies of RAF. “The four companies of RAF are ready for crowd control if the situation deteriorates. The companies may be moved from one district to another depending on the situation,” the IGP said. He asserted that police would not allow anyone to disrupt law and order.Besides CRPF, there are eight companies of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), four of the Sashastra Seema Bal and three companies of the Assam Police Battalion. Personnel from the Arunachal Pradesh Police and Indian Reserve Battalion have also been deployed.Two RAF companies have been stationed in Siang district, while East Siang and Upper Siang have one company each. Each RAF company has around 120 personnel, while the other deployed companies comprise approximately 70 personnel each.The Geku area of Upper Siang remains a major focus of the security deployment, with members of the Adi community opposing any move to conduct the proposed drilling on both banks of Siang river. Residents fear that the proposed dam could submerge Geku and neighbouring areas, displace hundreds of indigenous communities and threaten their ancestral land and livelihoods.Anti-dam organisations have criticised the deployment, calling it an attempt to suppress the movement against the proposed project.“Are we people of Pakistan and China, whose voices the govt wants to suppress? Deploying such massive forces may have adverse impacts and trigger more protests,” said Datik Ratan, spokesperson for Adi Bane Kebang-United, which is a leading organisation spearheading the anti-dam movement in the Siang region.Ratan questioned the need to deploy such a large contingent of forces in the interior districts to facilitate a pre-feasibility study opposed by local communities. He said if national security was the primary concern, the Centre should strengthen border infrastructure and military preparedness along the LAC.“If security is the concern, pour more money into buying arms and ammunition and building roads and infrastructure on the Indian side of the LAC to take on China,” he said, warning that the heavy deployment could further deepen resentment among residents opposed to the dam.Arunachal Pradesh Congress on Monday demanded a substantial reduction in the deployment of additional RAF personnel, accusing the govt of relying on force instead of addressing public concerns.In a statement, the party urged the govt to open dialogue with affected communities, suspend pre-feasibility survey activities until meaningful consultations are held. It also ordered an impartial inquiry into the reported use of tear gas on civilians during the recent 12-hour bandh. It also asked the govt to clarify which assurances chief minister Pema Khandu had given to Adi youths and which of them had been fulfilled.While condemning the violence, arson and damage to property, the party called for action against those responsible. However, it opposed ‘collective punishment’ or suppression of legitimate dissent. It also sought the release of detainees whose detention is not legally justified and a review of protest-related FIRs.The party asked for time-bound talks with the Siang Indigenous Farmers’ Forum, Adi Bane Kebang Union, Siang Area Youth Association, village elders and other groups. It warned that deploying additional forces could further escalate tensions.The Congress said SUMP could generate substantial electricity and help with flood moderation, depending on its design.Meanwhile, the investigation into Friday’s violence in Pasighat is underway. Police are examining whether the arson and attacks were spontaneous or part of a planned attempt to provoke unrest. Six cases have been registered in connection with the incidents.Tamang said 21 people had been arrested by Monday in connection with the violence in Pasighat. Some of them were remanded in judicial custody after being produced before a local court. Apart from these 21, five juveniles were also arrested and sent to a juvenile home. Police detained six others in connection with the violence, which allegedly involved members of Gen Z.Over the past one and a half years, 69 people have been arrested for vandalism, arson, rioting and other charges in connection to anti-dam protests and 53 cases have been registered, Tamang said.
