The violence means the closure of another proposed dam in Arunachal Pradesh

Violence during a 12-hour shutdown paralyzed parts of Arunachal Pradesh’s Upper Subansiri district on Monday (Oct 26, 2026), leading to the cancellation of a public hearing on the proposed 1,605-megawatt Subansiri Upper Hydroelectric Project, also known as Menga Dam.

Several student and community organizations led by the All Tagin Students’ Union (ATSU) called the shutdown. An alleged attempt by the police to detain ATSU president Tadako Pakba late Saturday night was among the triggers for the protests.

A district official, who declined to be quoted, said the shutdown was marked by arson, vandalism and clashes with police. Much of the violence was concentrated in Daporijo, the headquarters of Upper Subansiri district, which was in the news for alleged incursions by Chinese soldiers.

Videos shared on social media appear to show a private vehicle being set on fire, a police vehicle damaged and overturned and some two-wheelers damaged. The protesters also allegedly damaged or burnt equipment, computer peripherals and measuring instruments at an office associated with the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), which is implementing the project.

The protesters demanded the withdrawal of the proposed project on the Subansiri River, citing concerns about its impact on the environment, livelihoods, indigenous rights and interests of the affected communities.

The student organizations also demanded an explanation from the district administration and the police over the alleged attempt to detain Mr. Pakba. They warned of further protests if their demands were not addressed.

Security personnel remained deployed in the district amid reports of tension.

Second mixing in 48 hours

The agitation against the Subansiri project followed a similar protest on October 24 against the pre-feasibility study of the proposed 11,200 MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project in the Siang River Valley. Pasighat, the district headquarters of East Siang, was the epicenter of this protest.

Local residents, mostly belonging to the Adi community, oppose the Siang project, fearing widespread displacement and adverse environmental impacts. But the Center sees the project as necessary to counter a 60,000 MW hydropower project that China is building upstream on the Yarlung Tsangpo River, a river that enters India from Tibet as the Siang and downstream meets the Dibang and Lohit rivers to form the Brahmaputra.

The Center has ordered the deployment of two more companies of the Rapid Action Force following the violence in Pasighat, in which four women suffered teargas-related problems and several security personnel were injured in stone pelting.

Meanwhile, anti-dam activists Siang Ebo Mili and Otul Jerang, who are currently in police custody in Pasighat, reportedly started a hunger strike on Monday (October 26). Both surrendered to the police following the violence associated with the anti-dam agitation on Friday night.

Published – 26 Oct 2026 19:30 IST