Pasighat violence: Centre airlifts 250 RAF personnel to Arunachal

The Centre has sent two companies of the CRPF's Rapid Action Force (RAF), about 250 personnel, to Arunachal Pradesh after violence in Pasighat during protests against the proposed 11,200 MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP), officials said on Sunday, October 25.

The Ministry of Home Affairs ordered on Saturday that the units be flown from Navi Mumbai on an Indian Air Force transport aircraft, officials told PTI. They were expected to reach Pasighat and be deployed by Sunday. The RAF is the CRPF's specialised anti-riot unit.

What happened in Pasighat

A 12-hour bandh in Siang, Upper Siang and East Siang districts on Friday, October 23, was largely peaceful, according to the Chief Minister's Office. Violence broke out in Pasighat after the bandh ended and continued until about 3.30 am on Saturday.

According to Arunachal Pradesh Police, a mob set fire to an NHPC office and a police station and vandalised the homes of political leaders, including the state BJP president, in East Siang district.

Police said more than 40 personnel were injured in stone-pelting over nearly nine hours. A protester was hit in the leg by a tear gas shell and admitted to hospital. Officials said CRPF units already in the area had stopped the violence from escalating.

Restrictions imposed

The East Siang district administration has barred public gatherings and processions in Pasighat, Mebo and Ruksin, citing the risk of vandalism, arson and a breakdown of law and order.

Chief minister's appeal

Chief Minister Pema Khandu called the incidents regrettable. He said peaceful protest is an essential part of democracy, but demonstrations must stay within the law and must not damage property or disrupt public order. He appealed to everyone to keep the peace.

The project

SUMP, planned across three districts, is being presented as a strategic counter to China's mega dam upstream. Indigenous communities fear the reservoir could submerge villages and cut their ties with the river.

The Siang, called the Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet, enters Arunachal near Gelling and flows for 294 km before meeting the Dibang and Lohit near Sadiya in Assam to form the Brahmaputra.