Itanagar: Tension over the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) reached a boiling point on Friday after the Upper Siang district administration ordered the preventive detention of four individuals under the Arunachal Pradesh Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 2014, following a series of violent incidents, arson and public safety threats in the region.The crackdown comes alongside reports of five anti-dam activists being taken into police custody in Pasighat, with associates alleging that their exact whereabouts remain unknown. Additionally, two activists — Tagar Taga and Tatin Tabin — were arrested from Boleng on Thursday and are currently held at the Pangin police station.According to an official release issued by Upper Siang deputy commissioner Ashok Tajo, preventive detention orders were served on Adum Tayom (Kumku village), Omak Paron and Okut Paloh (Ramku village), and Oson Paron (Geku).District authorities stated the move followed a thorough assessment of the law-and-order situation, which has remained “tense and volatile” for the past four months due to resistance against pre-feasibility report (PFR) activities for the mega hydropower initiative. Officials alleged that organised violence had escalated rapidly in recent weeks, resulting in damaged public and private properties, destroyed homes and burned govt vehicles, despite multiple FIRs registered at the Yingkiong police station.“Opposition to the proposed dam and the maintenance of law and order are two separate issues,” the district administration stated, warning that violence under the guise of anti-dam protests would face zero tolerance, while urging residents to resolve grievances through peaceful dialogue.The crackdown has drawn sharp criticism from local community leaders. Questioning the administration’s high-handedness, Siang Indigenous Farmers’ Forum (SIFF) spokesperson Tagori Mize asked: “The Chief Minister himself said that the Adi people were innocent. Then why are you arresting the innocent? How can meaningful dialogue take place if those raising genuine concerns are being thrown into custody?”While police sources confirmed that standard procedures and family notifications were followed in the Boleng arrests, East Siang police officials were unavailable for comment regarding the detentions in Pasighat.Affected indigenous communities have been carrying out sustained protests against SUMP, demanding transparency, comprehensive public consultation and clarity regarding its socio-environmental footprint. The state govt maintains that the ongoing PFR exercise is purely exploratory to determine project viability and does not signify a final decision on construction.
