Dite Dime: Security forces have turned the Dite Dime bridge, the strategic gateway to four proposed drilling sites for the pre-feasibility survey of the 11,200 MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP), into a heavily fortified zone.A large contingent of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) has been deployed at the bridge over Siang river, a key link between Siang and Upper Siang districts.The deployment follows protests by anti-dam groups, which fear that the drilling survey could lead to the preparation of a pre-feasibility report and eventually pave the way for construction of the mega project. The groups have warned that the dam could displace hundreds of Adi tribals.Police sources on Wednesday said reinforcements had been sent to locations where protesters allegedly targeted security personnel earlier this month. Police and security forces have taken control of movement across the bridge, the sources added.At least four women were injured in a clash at Dite-Dime, near Geku in Siang district, on Oct 23 during a 12-hour bandh against the proposed project.More than 150 bandh supporters allegedly pelted stones at security personnel, attempted to breach barricades and damaged security-force vehicles while opposing the survey, police sources said.The heightened security comes as authorities move to facilitate access to the proposed drilling sites for the SUMP survey.
A security personnel guards the way to proposed Parong drilling site near Dite Dime village in Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh on Wednesday.
“Dite Dime bridge is a critical access point to all four proposed drilling locations, which is why we have deployed a substantial number of personnel there. Security has also been strengthened at the individual survey sites, with naka checking in place in Dite Dime bridge to prevent any untoward incident,” a police source told TOI on Wednesday.A large contingent of security personnel has been stationed at Dite Dime bridge, while another major deployment has been made in Parong, close to a proposed drilling site. Heavy security presence was also reported near another proposed drilling point at Ugeng, near Riga village which witnessed violent clashes between villagers and security forces recently.The four proposed drilling locations are Parong and Begging, situated opposite each other, and Ugeng and Komkar, further upstream along Siang river.The deployment in various villages between these proposed drilling points along Siang river, the source added, is also aimed at preventing confrontations between villagers “supporting the proposed survey” and those opposing it.“Differences within the affected villages over the survey have created a sensitive situation. Our priority is to ensure that these disagreements do not escalate into violence, while preventing any attack on police or security personnel,” a senior police officer said.Although no clashes between protesters and security forces were reported on Tuesday and Wednesday, the security forces are on high alert. The demand for the release of those arrested in connection with vandalism, arson and the attack on security forces last Friday continues to fuel tension.Meanwhile, anonymous social media posts, purportedly issued in the name of ‘Gen Z’, calling for repeated bandhs have added to the security concerns. A shutdown call circulated on Tuesday, followed by another purported bandh announcement for Wednesday, triggered confusion across the Siang belt.On Tuesday, the district administration clarified that a bandh message circulating on social media in the name of ‘Gen Z’ was false and unverified. Despite the clarification, several commercial establishments remained closed for several hours until around noon on Tuesday.The administration was again compelled to issue a clarification over a poster claiming that a bandh would be observed from 5 am on Wednesday to 5 am on Thursday. The message, allegedly circulated in the name of the “Gen-Z, East Siang district unit”, cited certain demands.The heightened security follows the violence on Friday night, when the office of NHPC, the executing agency for the SUMP, was set on fire in Pasighat. The residences of Arunachal Pradesh BJP president Kaling Moyong and MLAs Ninong Ering and Oni Panyang in Pasighat were also attacked in incidents allegedly linked to Gen Z protesters.Officials said 30 companies of CAPF have been deployed across the protest-hit districts in the Siang belt to maintain law and order. In addition, three companies of Assam Police Battalion remained stationed in Pasighat as of Wednesday.
