Siang violence: Police seek search warrants for journalist Tongam Rina

Arunachal Pradesh Police have moved court for permission to search the homes of senior journalist Tongam Rina, advocate Sunny Tayeng and two anti-dam activists as part of their investigation into the violence in Pasighat on October 23 during protests against the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP).

According to reports, the investigating officer of Pasighat police station filed the application before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) of East Siang district on October 27. It seeks search warrants under Section 96 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, for the premises of four people: Rina, who is deputy editor of The Arunachal Times, Tayeng, and activists Otul Jerang and Tajong Talom, both 30. The court has not yet ruled on the request.

Why the police moved court

The application is linked to an FIR over the October 23-24 unrest in Pasighat, when protesters opposing the 11,200 MW dam targeted the Pasighat police station, offices of the project developer NHPC and homes of local political leaders. The Centre later airlifted Rapid Action Force personnel to the town. Several anti-dam campaigners, including lawyer Ebo Mili, are in judicial custody; Mili's hunger strike entered its sixth day on Friday, according to Rina.

Press bodies object

The Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) and the Arunachal Press Club (APC) said in a joint statement that naming Rina in the application was a serious threat to press freedom. They said reporting on a protest is not an offence and that no evidence linking her to any crime has been made public. While condemning the arson and destruction in Pasighat, the two bodies asked the police and the state government to explain the grounds for including her, review the move urgently and correct it if it is found unjustified.

The Arunachal Publishers and Broadcasters Guild (APBG) also voiced concern, saying any investigative action involving a journalist must follow due process and be handled with transparency.

What Rina said

In a post on X, Rina said the Pasighat violence would not have happened had the police leadership and the government handled the situation better, and said Tayeng is a lawyer representing several jailed anti-dam activists. She said the police action would not stop her writing or her support for the people of the Siang valley.

The state government has defended its response to the protests, saying violence and destruction of public property will not be tolerated while peaceful dissent remains a right. The Siang project has faced years of local resistance over fears of displacement and environmental damage. NEInsider will update this story when the court decides on the application.