World · India Bureau
Gen Z mobilises against Arunachal Pradesh dam project amid security buildup
Arunachal Pradesh Police have deployed additional paramilitary forces to Pasighat as younger activists prepare mass demonstrations against a proposed hydroelectric dam. Two companies of Rapid Action Force personnel have been airlifted from Navi Mumbai to reinforce state security arrangements.
LSN India ·
State police authorities in Arunachal Pradesh are bracing for a significant youth-led agitation against a major dam project, prompting the deployment of additional paramilitary resources to the region. The Arunachal Pradesh Police have called in two companies of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) from Navi Mumbai to Pasighat, the largest town in East Siang district, to bolster security preparedness ahead of the planned demonstrations.
Generation Z activists have mobilised to oppose the hydroelectric dam initiative, which has drawn environmental and social concerns from communities in the northeastern state. The scale of expected participation has prompted authorities to take precautionary measures, positioning additional forces in strategic locations to manage the anticipated crowds.
Pasighat, situated along the Siang River, has emerged as a focal point for the agitation, with organisers expecting substantial turnout from youth across the region. The RAF deployment underscores state authorities' assessment of potential security challenges, though no major incidents have been reported to date.
The heightened security posture reflects growing public activism in Arunachal Pradesh over infrastructure projects and their environmental impact, a pattern increasingly visible across India's northeastern territories.
Photo: The Siang River at Pasighat, East Siang district, Arunachal Pradesh, December 2023. Rashid Jorvee via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).