ITANAGAR: At least seven people, including six women and one man, were reportedly injured in a clash between police and anti-dam protesters in Arunachal Pradesh’s Siang district on Friday morning.
The incident reportedly took place around 8.30 am near the Dite Dime bridge, as protesters travelled to Boleng to participate in a 12-hour bandh against the proposed 11,000 MW Siang hydropower project.
According to local accounts, police allegedly broke vehicle windshields and used stones and tear gas shells during the confrontation. The injured were reportedly taken to a local community health centre for treatment. These details have not been independently verified.
The bandh was called over demands for the withdrawal of Central Armed Police Forces deployed in the region, the withdrawal of police cases against anti-dam activists, and an immediate halt to work related to the proposed project.
Opposition to the dam has intensified amid concerns over the potential displacement of villages, the loss of ancestral land and the environmental impact on the Siang Valley. Reports suggest that 27 villages could be affected by the proposed project.
The state government has maintained that the ongoing surveys and pre-feasibility studies are intended to assess the project’s viability and do not constitute final approval for construction.
The latest reported confrontation comes amid continuing tensions between local communities and authorities over the proposed hydropower project.