PASIGHAT, Oct 24: Violence erupted in Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh, on Friday as protests against the proposed 11,000 MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) escalated, with an office of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) and Pasighat police station reportedly set on fire.
Seven police vehicles were also reportedly torched, while a journalist sustained injuries during the unrest. Authorities had yet to officially confirm the extent of the damage or provide a detailed account of the incidents.
The violence followed escalating tensions between protesters and security personnel. Local reports alleged that police used tear gas to disperse demonstrators. Heavy security was subsequently deployed in Pasighat as authorities sought to contain the situation.
The protesters demanded the release of detained activists, the withdrawal of security forces from the Siang region and an immediate halt to the pre-feasibility report (PFR) survey work for the proposed project.
The 11,000 MW hydropower project, being developed by NHPC on the Siang river, has faced opposition amid concerns over the potential impact of large infrastructure projects on local communities, land and the river system.
The latest unrest has heightened tensions in the region, with demonstrators opposing both the ongoing survey activities and the deployment of security personnel. The situation in Pasighat remained tense following the incidents.
