Arunachal Pradesh Government Intensifies Crackdown on Anti-Dam Activists

On October 9, the peaceful atmosphere of a barber’s shop in Arunachal Pradesh was shattered when police abruptly detained Adum Tayom, a prominent activist from the Upper Siang district. Tayom, along with three fellow members of the Siang Indigenous Farmers’ Forum (SIFF), was forcibly taken by police while he was getting a haircut in Pasighat. The group has been vocal in their opposition to an 11,000 MW hydroelectric dam proposed in the region, fearing it will inundate their ancestral lands and displace local communities.

The activists were transported to Itanagar, the state capital, where they are currently being held under preventive detention. Their families were left in the dark about the situation; Osunam Tayom, Adum’s wife, revealed that they were not informed about his arrest for over eight hours. “We were left anxious and without any information about where he was taken or why he was arrested,” she shared with a sense of frustration.

The SIFF has been at the forefront of protests against the dam for several years, arguing that it threatens the livelihoods and culture of the Adi community, who have lived in harmony with the Siang river for generations. The proposed dam has sparked widespread discontent, with locals fearing that it would result in the loss of their land, ecological disruption, and profound changes to their way of life.

In a worrying trend, the Arunachal Pradesh government has increasingly resorted to suppressing dissent and stifling protests against the dam. Activists have reported being threatened, detained, and faced with militarization of their local areas, raising concerns about civil liberties and the right to protest. The recent detainment of Tayom and his colleagues exemplifies this crackdown and highlights the lengths to which authorities will go to quell opposition.

Despite the government’s heavy-handed approach, local communities remain steadfast in their opposition to the dam. Many residents of Geku, the village directly affected by the proposed dam site, continue to rally together, seeking justice and recognition of their rights. As this situation unfolds, it raises profound questions about the balance between development and preserving the rights of indigenous populations in India.

Source: scroll.in