After violence erupted during protests over the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project, the Centre on Saturday reportedly dispatched two Rapid Action Force (RAF) companies of the CRPF to Arunachal Pradesh’s Pasighat.
The units will reach Pasighat and get deployed by Sunday, officials said, news agency PTI reported. A mob reportedly torched the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) office and a police station. The ministry of home affairs (MHA) directed on Saturday that the RAF companies comprising about 250 personnel will be airlifted from Navi Mumbai on board an IAF transport aircraft.
Chief minister Pema Khandu said the right to peaceful protest was an essential part of democracy, but it was important that demonstrations remained within the bounds of the law and did not result in damage to property or disruption of public order. RAF is a special blue-uniform donning anti-riot unit of the Central Reserved Police Force (CRPF) Violence erupted in Arunachal Pradesh on Friday amid protests over the proposed Siang project. Houses of three political leaders, including that of the state BJP chief, in East Siang district were also targeted on Friday night, according to Arunachal Pradesh Police officials.
