69 Arrested, 3 Legislators' Homes Vandalized in Arunachal Dam Protest
- Sixty-nine individuals were arrested under the Arunachal Pradesh Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.
- Police have registered 55 criminal cases across Upper Siang, Siang, and East Siang districts.
- Protesters vandalized the homes of three prominent legislators and an NHPC office.
- Security presence has increased to 30 companies of Central Armed Police Forces.
- The proposed 12,500-megawatt dam project has faced ongoing opposition since 2025.
Inspector General of Police Hibu Tamang reported that 69 people were arrested and four were detained on Friday for their alleged involvement in violence during a protest against a proposed dam in Pasighat.
Those arrested face charges of rioting, torching vehicles, and vandalizing office buildings and residential houses. The situation escalated on October 23, 2026, when public property was allegedly damaged during the protests.
55 criminal cases registered across three districts
Police have registered 55 criminal cases in connection with the violence across the three affected districts.
Separately, police registered eight cases related to vandalism in Pasighat. In that location, 21 people have been arrested, with several others detained and the possibility of further arrests.
Security forces surge to 30 CAPF companies in Siang Valley
The deployment of security forces in the Siang Valley increased from 21 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces to 30 companies.
Three companies of Assam Police and Arunachal Police personnel were deployed. Three battalions of the Assam Police were sent to Pasighat in East Siang to assist in maintaining law and order.
Vandalism targets homes of legislators and NHPC office
The residence of BJP state chief and former Pasighat East MLA Kaling Moyong was also vandalized during the unrest.
In Pasighat, demonstrators vandalized and set fire to a National Hydroelectric Power Corporation office and a police station. These actions occurred after security personnel fired tear-gas at the protesters.
Government and protesters clash over 12,500-MW Siang project
The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation, a government-owned entity, is tasked with building the power project on the Siang river.
According to estimates by the Siang Indigenous Farmers’ Forum, the proposed dam will affect 27 villages located in Siang and Upper Siang districts. Law-and-order concerns regarding the project emerged before the survey process began.
Arunachal Pradesh Inspector General of Police Hibu Tamang said the state government remains open to dialogue with families affected by the project. He added that some villagers signed memorandums of understanding for pre-feasibility reports, while others argue the project is unnecessary.
Hibu Tamang stated that the recent unrest was caused by youths without leadership who vandalized public property and triggered law-and-order issues in Pasighat.
Statewide opposition grows with 40 FIRs since 2025
Protests against dam projects have grown across the state, with at least 40 first-information reports filed since 2025, according to lawyers and activists. The Siang River, known as the Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet, flows into Arunachal Pradesh and is the main tributary of the Brahmaputra.
On Monday, student and community organizations held a 12-hour shutdown in Upper Subansiri to protest the proposed Subansiri Upper Hydroelectric Project, also known as the Menga Dam. This action resulted in the cancellation of a scheduled public hearing.
Residents say the Bharatiya Janata Party state government has taken extraordinary measures over the last month. They claimed that the government has arrested protesters, detained activists, and saturated Upper Siang villages with paramilitary personnel, which has effectively transformed the regions into "military zones".
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