Siang dam protests turn violent in Arunachal Pradesh, 40 police injured

Protests against a proposed Himalayan mega-dam in India’s Arunachal Pradesh turned violent on Friday night, leaving about 40 police officers injured and buildings torched in Pasighat, officials said (Dawn).

The violence erupted during protests against the proposed 11,200-megawatt Siang Upper Multipurpose Project of state-run hydropower company NHPC. Chief Minister Pema Khandu told reporters on Saturday that a mob destroyed properties, vandalised the NHPC office and ransacked the homes of several elected representatives. Police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd, and protesters injured officers by throwing stones.

The Times of India reported that the NHPC office and a police station in Pasighat, in East Siang district, were torched, the residences of two MLAs and the state BJP president were vandalised and looted, and a deputy superintendent of police who suffered a head injury was evacuated to Dibrugarh for treatment (Times of India). One protester was hit in the leg by a tear gas shell and admitted to hospital. The district administration imposed restrictions on public gatherings in Pasighat, Mebo and Ruksin from 5pm on Saturday until further orders.

The violence followed a 12-hour bandh called by Adi Baane Kebang United and other organisations, which ended peacefully at 5pm but was not observed in Pasighat itself, the Times of India reported.

India says the dam, which would be by far its largest hydropower project, is needed to counter China’s $167-billion Yaxia project upstream in Tibet, and to store water and maintain flows into the Brahmaputra river. Beijing has said its project will have no negative impact downstream. China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of South Tibet, a claim India has repeatedly dismissed. Local communities oppose the Indian project, fearing the loss of their homes and land.

Sources:

• Dawn: https://www.dawn.com/news/2039703/indian-protesters-clash-with-police-over-dam-project-bordering-china
• The Straits Times: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/south-asia/protesters-clash-with-police-over-india-dam-project-bordering-china
• Arab News: https://www.arabnews.com/world/protesters-clash-with-police-over-india-dam-project-bordering-china-3008145
• The Times of India: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/stir-in-arunachal-against-siang-dam-turns-violent/articleshow/135181451.cms