Congress slams security buildup in Arunachal as dam protests escalate

The Congress party has cautioned against ramping up security forces in Arunachal Pradesh without tackling the root causes of discontent, warning that such measures could intensify tensions across the Siang valley region. The party's intervention comes as unrest escalates in several districts, including Siang, Upper Siang and East Siang, where local communities have mounted sustained resistance to a major hydroelectric project.

Authorities arrested 26 people in Pasighat on Monday as demonstrations against the dam project turned turbulent. The detentions mark an escalation in efforts to quell the protests, which have now spread beyond the immediate project area to adjacent regions. Upper Subansiri district also witnessed violence as the movement gained momentum across the eastern districts of the state.

Congress representatives argued that deploying additional security personnel without addressing underlying community grievances risks widening the fault lines between local populations and the state. The party called for dialogue-based solutions that prioritize the concerns of affected residents, particularly those dependent on river resources and local ecosystems potentially impacted by the project.

The hydroelectric dam project has emerged as a contentious issue in Arunachal Pradesh, with local communities expressing concerns over environmental impact and rehabilitation measures. State authorities have not yet responded to the Congress's assertions about the security deployment strategy. Officials stated that law and order operations would continue to contain the unrest while developmental activities proceed.