Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has agreed in principle to reduce the deployment of security personnel in the Siang Valley and withdraw FIRs registered in connection with protests against the proposed 11,200 MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project, according to reports.
The assurance comes as a large anti-dam protest rally is underway in Yingkiong, the headquarters of Upper Siang district, with opposition to the mega project continuing despite repeated appeals from the state government for dialogue.
Security Thinning and FIR Withdrawal
The reported in-principle agreement addresses two of the protesters’ core demands: a visible drawdown of security forces from villages affected by the project, and the withdrawal of police cases filed against people involved in the agitation.
The security build-up in the Siang Valley has been a flashpoint for months, with anti-dam groups arguing that a heavy presence of personnel amounts to intimidation of indigenous communities. The Chief Minister’s concession, if implemented, would mark the first significant de-escalation by the state government in the standoff.
Rally Continues in Yingkiong
Even as the assurance emerged, residents from several villages gathered for a peaceful rally and meeting in Yingkiong, demanding the release of detained protesters and a halt to project-related activities.
The administration has in recent days relaxed some prohibitory orders in the area — Upper Siang authorities had earlier barred gatherings of five or more people near key installations in Yingkiong, citing urgent law and order concerns. The protests continued regardless, drawing villagers from across the valley.
Administration’s Balancing Act
The state’s Director General of Police has maintained that the police’s duty is to uphold the rule of law, even as the Chief Minister signals a softer line on force deployment and cases.
The Siang Upper Multipurpose Project remains one of India’s most contested hydropower proposals. While some residents see jobs, roads and connectivity in the mega dam, protesters and indigenous groups demand a halt to surveys and the withdrawal of security forces, warning that pursuing the project without community consent risks escalating tensions. Whether the Chief Minister’s assurances translate into action on the ground will decide the next chapter of the standoff.
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