Siang row: Jailed lawyer Ebo Mili on hunger strike for six days

Ebo Mili, a lawyer who provided legal help to people protesting against the proposed Siang mega dam in Arunachal Pradesh, has been on a hunger strike in jail for six days since his arrest over the violence in Pasighat, his counsel has said.

Mili, 34, is accused of having a role in the October 24 violence in Pasighat town in East Siang district, which broke out during an agitation against the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP).

Surrender, arrest and custody

According to his lawyer Sunny Tayeng, Mili was not part of the protest and says he had nothing to do with the violence. He surrendered to the police on October 24, fearing action against him, and was arrested the next day. A court in Pasighat remanded him to 14 days of judicial custody.

"He began his hunger strike soon after his arrest as he was innocent and had no role in the violence. He is diabetic and his family is very worried about his health condition," Tayeng told Deccan Herald on Friday.

The lawyer said a bail petition would be filed on Monday. Police had earlier registered cases against Mili alleging a role in violence during anti-SUMP protests. He had given legal assistance to agitators who were detained or arrested.

What happened in Pasighat

Hundreds of young protesters blocked a road in Pasighat on October 23 after a 12-hour bandh called by organisations opposed to the project ended, and police fired tear gas to disperse them. In the early hours of October 24, an office of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) and a police station were set on fire, and the houses of two BJP MLAs and the party's state president were vandalised.

More than 60 people, including five juveniles, have been arrested over the violence. Several activists opposed to the dam have also been taken into custody, a charge that groups leading the agitation say is unjustified.

The wider dispute

The Siang region, home mainly to the Adi community, has seen protests for years over fears about the impact of SUMP, which includes a planned 11,200 MW hydropower project. The state and Centre have argued the project is vital for water security and as a strategic counter to Chinese dam-building upstream on the Yarlung Tsangpo.

Another lawyer who helped anti-dam villagers, Bhanu Tatak, has also faced police action and is being probed by the CBI over alleged foreign funding in violation of FCRA rules, an allegation he has rejected.

Arunachal's Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein said this week the government is open to dialogue with all groups opposing the project.