Upper Siang Invokes Preventive Detention Law Against Four Amid Escalating Clashes Over Arunachal Mega Dam The Upper Siang administration in Arunachal Pradesh has ordered the preventive detention of four individuals following arson and unrest linked to protests against the proposed multi-purpose hydel project. In an escalation of administrative measures surrounding anti-dam demonstrations in Arunachal Pradesh, authorities in Upper Siang district have clamped down on unrest by ordering the preventive detention of four individuals. The orders were issued under the provisions of the Arunachal Pradesh Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 2014, with the local administration citing a surge in violence, property destruction, and public peril during demonstrations against the planned Siang Upper Multipurpose Project. Detention Orders Issued Against Key Figures Official communication from Upper Siang Deputy Commissioner Ashok Tajo confirmed that detention orders have targeted Adum Tayom from Kumku village, Omak Paron and Okut Paloh from Ramku village, and Oson Paron from Geku. The decision emerged alongside reports indicating that five anti-dam activists were taken into police custody in Pasighat, where fellow campaigners noted that the whereabouts of the detained individuals remained uncertain. In a related police action in Boleng, two other activists identified as Tagar Taga and Tatin Tabin were arrested on Thursday. They were subsequently held at the Pangin Police Station. Police authorities confirmed that a formal FIR had been filed against the pair and that mandatory procedural steps, including notifying their families about the arrests, were carried out in full compliance with legal guidelines. Four Months of Deteriorating Ground Realities The administrative crackdown follows an extensive review of the security landscape across the region, which officials described as increasingly fragile and volatile over the past four months. The tension began intensifying alongside activities linked to the pre-feasibility report for the proposed mega hydropower project. According to officials, recurring clashes led to residential damage, destruction of private and civic infrastructure, and the torching of state government transport vehicles. District authorities emphasized that organized acts of arson and unrest had heightened in recent weeks, paralyzing developmental works and creating widespread fear among local residents. Although multiple first information reports were filed at Yingkiong Police Station targeting individuals implicated in the disturbances, disruptive actions continued unabated. Emphasizing that opposing the infrastructure project and maintaining civic order are entirely distinct matters, the administration cautioned that violence under the banner of protest would face zero tolerance, urging community members to resolve disputes through constructive dialogue. Indigenous Resistance and Official Clarifications The punitive measures prompted sharp pushback from local groups representing the affected population. Siang Indigenous Farmers Forum spokesperson Tagori Mize voiced profound dismay over the administration's actions and openly challenged the handling of community resistance. Mize asked why members of the Adi community were facing arrests when the state Chief Minister had previously acknowledged them as innocent, adding that meaningful consultation cannot proceed while people voicing genuine apprehensions are being locked away. The Siang Upper Multipurpose Project has been a focal point of intense resistance from local inhabitants, who continue to call for broader public consultations, absolute transparency, and comprehensive appraisals of potential social and ecological hazards. In response, the Khandu-led state government has repeatedly clarified that the ongoing pre-feasibility report is exclusively aimed at examining the viability of the venture and should not be construed as a final executive determination to proceed with construction. What this means for you The invocation of preventive detention laws tightens administrative control over the regional agitation, directly affecting community activism and local movement. • Across India: The episode highlights the persistent friction between large-scale national infrastructure initiatives and indigenous tribal concerns across the fragile Himalayan belt. It underscores how regulatory and security approaches in the Northeast continue to shape the execution timeline of crucial hydel energy projects. • In Arunachal Pradesh: Residents across Upper Siang and neighboring districts face heightened security scrutiny and police checks following the clashes. Community members and indigenous forums will need to channel their grievances strictly through administrative dialogues to avoid legal detention. • For affected local villages: Settlements such as Kumku, Ramku, and Geku now operate under intensified police monitoring. Local demonstrators must navigate severe restrictions on unauthorized gatherings to avoid punitive legal measures under preventive custody statutes. • For developmental works: The firm administrative action aims to curb arson and ensure the resumption of disrupted civic services. However, underlying tensions around the project's pre-feasibility assessments are likely to linger until structured stakeholder consultations take place. Why this happened The administrative intervention was triggered by widespread property destruction and public unrest that erupted during feasibility assessments for the mega hydel project. • Direct trigger: Clashes during fieldwork for the pre-feasibility report of the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project led to damage to homes, public assets, and the torching of state government vehicles. • Underlying conditions: The regional law-and-order scenario remained fragile and combustible over the preceding four months, as unrest persisted despite initial FIRs lodged at the local police station. • Indigenous concerns: Native Adi communities and local farming forums fear extensive social, demographic, and ecological disruption from the mega dam, sparking organized calls for consultations and total transparency. • Administrative necessity: Citing public intimidation and stalled developmental works, the district administration invoked preventive detention powers to restore basic civic stability and halt escalating arson. Questions & Answers 1. Who are the four persons named in the Upper Siang preventive detention orders? The orders name Adum Tayom from Kumku, Omak Paron and Okut Paloh from Ramku, and Oson Paron from Geku. 2. Under which legislation was the preventive detention ordered? The action was initiated under the Arunachal Pradesh Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 2014. 3. Why are local communities opposing the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project? Residents are concerned about ecological and social impacts, demanding wider consultations and full transparency before any project moves forward. 4. What is the state government's stance regarding the ongoing work? The government has clarified that the pre-feasibility study is meant purely to test project viability and is not a final construction greenlight. https://trendkia.com/en/arunachal-pradesh/arunachal-pradesh-men-siang-bandha-virodhi-andolana-para-bara-ekshana-upper-siang-prashasana-ne-chara-logon-para-lagaya-priventiva-45794 TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.