At least four women were hospitalised after police reportedly fired tear gas shells to disperse protesters at Dite-Dime near Geku in Arunachal Pradesh during a 12-hour bandh against the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) on Friday, even as police accused a group of protesters of attempting to breach barricades and attacking security personnel.
Further details regarding the condition of the hospitalised women, the extent of damage and the police action were awaited. He alleged that the protesters attempted to vandalise police barricades, obstructed security personnel deployed at the location and violated prohibitory orders issued by the district magistrate. The protesters also allegedly pelted stones at the security forces, prompting police intervention.
The incident occurred at the 65 Bridge in Dite-Dime, where a large number of people had gathered in support of the shutdown when tensions escalated around 7 am. Confirming police action at the site, Siang Superintendent of Police Kamdam Sikhom said around 150 to 200 protesters from Upper Siang district, particularly Geku and Komkar, arrived at Dite-Dime in Siang district around 7 am and attempted to enter the district. The organisations are demanding the release of 10 arrested activists within 24 hours, the reinstatement of suspended gaon buras, the withdrawal of all pre-feasibility report (PFR) activities in dam-affected areas, and the removal of paramilitary and Central forces deployed in the region.
