Protesters Detained Outside Arunachal Bhawan During Solidarity Demonstration Against Siang Dam Project and Militarisation

New Delhi- Around 100 concerned citizens, students, and activists from various organisations gathered outside Arunachal Bhawan in Chanakyapuri on Saturday afternoon for a protest organised under the banners of Himkhand and Youth For Change (YFC) – Arunachal Pradesh. The demonstration expressed solidarity with the ongoing movement in Arunachal Pradesh against the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) and the heavy deployment of security forces in the region.

The protest began around 3 pm. Participants raised slogans against the dam, called for the release of detained anti-dam activists and leaders in Arunachal Pradesh, and demanded an end to the alleged militarisation of the Siang Valley. Placards carried messages such as “De-militarise Siang,” “Release the detained Adi leaders,” and opposition to the mega project.

By around 5 pm, Delhi Police moved in. Protesters reported being pushed, dragged, and forcibly removed. Some alleged that clothes were torn during the process. Seven people were taken to Chanakyapuri police station. Others were loaded into three buses and taken to different locations, including Baba Haridas Nagar police station in Jharoda Kalan (near Najafgarh). Women protesters were held longer, some remaining in custody past 9 pm. Detainees were asked to sign forms under Section 35(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).

Among those detained was Katon Moyong (also known as Aborman Anbo or Aborman), a prominent environmental activist from Arunachal Pradesh who has been vocal against the SUMP. Reports also mentioned the detention of other Northeast students and activists. One account from organisers noted that an independent journalist, Baksheesh Lamba, was taken away separately and later reported unreachable.

Activists from Himkhand described the police action as brutal. One participant alleged that her shirt was lifted and she was pinched on private parts while being pushed into a bus. Organisers stated that men and women were separated and taken to distant locations.

The proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project is a large hydropower initiative (around 11,000–11,200 MW) planned on the Siang river in Arunachal Pradesh. Indigenous communities, particularly the Adi tribe, and student/youth groups have opposed it, citing risks of displacement of villages, loss of ancestral land and livelihoods, ecological damage in a seismically sensitive Himalayan zone, and threats to cultural identity. The Siang is regarded by many communities as a sacred river.

Tensions in Arunachal Pradesh escalated in late October. Protests and a bandh in Pasighat on and around October 23 turned violent after police used tear gas and stun grenades. Incidents of stone-pelting, arson at an NHPC office and police vehicles, and damage to property were reported.

Authorities responded with arrests (reports of dozens to around 69 people across East Siang, Siang, and Upper Siang districts), registration of multiple cases, and invocation of the Arunachal Pradesh Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (APUAPA) in some instances. Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) companies were deployed in significant numbers in the Siang belt. Youth-led rallies, including one in Itanagar on October 29 organised with involvement of Youth For Change and others, demanded release of detainees, withdrawal of forces, and cancellation of project-related surveys.

The Delhi protest brought the Arunachal resistance to the national capital amid these developments. Organisers framed it as a peaceful solidarity action against both the dam and the crackdown. Delhi Police maintained a heavy presence outside Arunachal Bhawan.

As of late Saturday, several detainees remained in custody at different locations. The protest highlights the widening reach of the anti-SUMP movement and concerns over the handling of dissent in the Northeast.