Siang Upper Multipurpose Project: Violent Protests and CRPF Deployment in Arunachal Pradesh

Why in News

Protests against the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) turned violent in Pasighat, East Siang district, Arunachal Pradesh on 23 October 2026. Demonstrators set fire to a police station, an NHPC (National Hydroelectric Power Corporation) office, and nine police vehicles, injuring at least 40 security personnel. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs responded by deploying two Rapid Action Force (RAF) companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). At least 10 people have been arrested, including four detained under the Arunachal Pradesh Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 2014. Indigenous organisations — primarily the Adi Bane Kebang United and the Siang Indigenous Farmers' Forum — are leading the opposition.

Background

The Siang River (known as the Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet and the Brahmaputra in Assam) is one of the world's most powerful rivers. It descends over 2,500 metres in a short stretch as it crosses from the Tibetan Plateau into Arunachal Pradesh, creating one of the world's largest hydropower potential zones. The Siang River Basin in Arunachal Pradesh is home to the Adi tribe — one of Arunachal Pradesh's largest indigenous communities — who have lived along its banks for centuries and depend on it for agriculture, fishing, and cultural identity.

Context: China's mega-dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo
China has announced and commenced construction of a massive hydropower project on the Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet — reportedly with a capacity of 60,000 MW, potentially the world's largest. Because the river flows downstream into Arunachal Pradesh as the Siang, Indian strategic planners and NITI Aayog have recommended building the SUMP as a countermeasure — to use stored water, regulate flows, and prevent China from weaponising water by releasing sudden floods or restricting flow during dry seasons.

NHPC and a consortium of agencies have been conducting Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) surveys and assessment work for the SUMP. However, no formal Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) or Social Impact Assessment (SIA) has been completed, and affected communities say they have not been consulted.

Current Developments

• Violence (23 Oct 2026): Mobs set fire to NHPC office, police station, 9 police vehicles; 40 police personnel injured; extensive property damage in East Siang district.
• Government response: Two RAF companies of CRPF deployed by MHA; internet suspension reportedly imposed in affected districts; 10 arrests including 4 under APUAPA 2014.
• Preceding context: Protests escalated after the government initiated PMO-level consultations on the project in September 2026 without incorporating earlier community demands to halt PFR activities.
• Demands of protesters: (a) Halt PFR survey activities immediately; (b) remove NHPC staff from the region; (c) guarantee no displacement without free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC); (d) independent environmental assessment by experts chosen by communities.
• State government position: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister has urged protesters to clear "misinformation," citing China's mega-dam as an existential water-security risk justifying SUMP construction.

Key Facts

• Project name: Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP).
• Proposed capacity: 11,200 MW — would be India's largest hydropower project if built.
• Location: Upper Siang district, Arunachal Pradesh; river: Siang (upper reach of Brahmaputra).
• Developer: NHPC (National Hydroelectric Power Corporation) with WAPCOS Ltd for surveys.
• China's project: Yarlung Tsangpo mega-dam in Tibet; reported capacity ~60,000 MW; largest on Earth.
• River system: Yarlung Tsangpo (Tibet) → Siang (Arunachal Pradesh) → Brahmaputra (Assam) → Jamuna (Bangladesh) → Bay of Bengal.
• Adi tribe: Scheduled Tribe under the Constitution; the largest tribe in Arunachal Pradesh; primarily inhabit East and West Siang districts.
• CRPF: Central Reserve Police Force — India's largest Central Armed Police Force (CAPF); deployed for internal security.
• RAF (Rapid Action Force): Specialised wing of CRPF, trained for riot control and communal disturbances.
• APUAPA: Arunachal Pradesh Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 2014 — state-level law for preventive detention in security situations.
• Seismicity: The Siang region lies in Seismic Zone V (highest risk zone in India), raising structural safety concerns about large dams.

Constitutional Provisions

• Article 13 + Fifth Schedule / Sixth Schedule: Arunachal Pradesh is governed under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution (tribal areas of Northeast India), which provides for Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) with powers to regulate tribal land use and customs. Any project displacing tribal communities must respect Sixth Schedule provisions.
• Article 19(1)(b) + Article 19(1)(d): Right to assemble peaceably and to move freely — protects peaceful protest; the state may restrict these under reasonable restrictions (Article 19(2) and 19(5)).