Four individuals who faced detention during opposition against the proposed 11,200-MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) walked out of the Jully Central Jail near Itanagar on Saturday. The freed detainees are Adum Tayom, Omak Paron, Okut Paloh, and Oson Paron, who had been taken into custody under the Arunachal Pradesh Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 2014, following demonstrations across the Siang Valley.
Goodwill Gesture and Dialogue Efforts
The decision to set them free stems from an administrative move aimed at fostering a conducive environment for formal talks with agitating factions. Alongside this release, authorities have also approved the reinstatement of village heads, known locally as gaon buras and gaon buris, who were previously facing suspension. This shift arrives alongside renewed initiatives by the administration to invite the Siang Indigenous Farmers’ Forum (SIFF) back to negotiations to settle the ongoing dispute.
Official Communication and Key Demands
An official communication issued by the chief minister’s office on November 6 had earlier informed the forum about the impending release to establish ground rules for reconciliation. Securing the freedom of these four individuals stood as a primary precondition set by SIFF before they would consider sitting down with officials. Earlier, the collective had declined an invitation extended by Pema Khandu, maintaining that their core stipulations regarding detainees and the withdrawal of security personnel needed immediate attention first.
Easing Tensions in the Region
This latest development represents a notable milestone in reducing friction within the Siang Valley, where the massive infrastructure undertaking has drawn persistent local pushback and triggered repeated protests over recent months.
