Anti-SUMP groups rally in Itanagar, demand release of detained protesters

Members of several organisations staged a peaceful solidarity rally in Itanagar on October 29, demanding the immediate release of protesters detained during the ongoing agitation against the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) in Arunachal Pradesh.

The demonstrators, including members of the Indigenous of Siang and Youth for Change, also demanded the withdrawal of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel and other paramilitary forces deployed in the dam-affected areas of the Siang region.

Citizens, youth activists and representatives of various organisations participated in the rally, raising concerns over the proposed mega hydropower project and its potential impact on indigenous communities.

The protesters called for the protection of rivers, ancestral land, indigenous identity and local livelihoods, arguing that development projects should not come at the cost of traditional heritage and community rights.

The organisations also expressed concern over tensions in the region following recent incidents of unrest in Pasighat in East Siang district and Geku in Upper Siang district over the proposed project. They called for a peaceful resolution of the dispute and expressed solidarity with affected communities and those detained during the agitation.

The rally comes amid continuing opposition to the proposed 11,200-MW project, with several organisations demanding greater transparency, meaningful consultation with local communities and safeguards for indigenous rights.

The Arunachal Pradesh government has maintained that the project is important for water security, flood moderation and hydropower generation, while urging protesting groups to engage in dialogue.

However, organisations opposing the project have maintained that talks with Chief Minister Pema Khandu cannot proceed until the detained protesters are released and paramilitary forces are withdrawn from the affected areas.