Arunachal: Anti-Dam Protest Turns Violent, Minister Attacked with Chilli Powder, Punched

Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein has said that the government has an open mind for talks on the dam.

The anti-dam protest in Arunachal Pradesh turned violent and has taken a turn for the worse. Minister Ojing Tasing who was in Boleng (one of the villages that would be affected by the 11,500 MW Siang Upper Muti-purpose Project) to speak to the villagers and allay their apprehensions regarding the project, had a narrow escape when he had to face the fire of villagers.

The Minister who was holding the meeting with representatives of Siang Indigenous Farmers Forum (SIFF) and other local stakeholders at Siang DC’s office came under attack when an angry mob gheraoed him and a tense situation unfolded.

Videos which are now going viral, shows the Minister being heckled by angry villagers, and another video that is doing the rounds claims that the Minister apparently hit a woman with his elbow.

The Minister on his part said, “The mob attacked me physically, chilli powder was thrown on me. While the women were being pushed towards the front to gherao me, youths from behind shouted ‘hit him’. My PSO covered me. As I tried to move out of the crowd, few youths punched me. I thank my local youths and PSOs for taking me out safely from the violent mob.”

Regarding the allegation that he hit a woman, the Minister said the “video is concocted” and refuted the allegations.

Minister Tasing said that his uncle too was attacked and injured by members of SIFF and termed the attack on him and his uncle “pre-planned”.

A meeting that was supposed to resolve issues, has now turned into a game of accusations and counter-accusations, further complicating the SUMP issue.

Speaking exclusively to Northeast Live today, Minister Ojing Tasing stated that some unscrupulous elements are trying to derail the talks and stop the project.

Meanwhile, Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein has proposed fresh talks with village chiefs over the dam issue. Chowna Mein has said that the government has an open mind for talks on the dam.

The Arunachal Deputy CM has further stated that the government will talk to the local student leaders too. Chowna Mein has also said that vested interests are trying to obstruct the construction of the dam. It has been also stated that the district administration is aware of the incident during Minister Ojing Tasing’s talks at Boleng on Tuesday.

Fresh protests broke out last week after security forces were moved into the area and the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) brought in equipment to begin drilling work for a project feasibility analysis. The protesters, including those whose villages and farmlands would be affected by the dam, began an indefinite dharna at Beging in Siang district under the banner of SIFF.

The SIFF has been leading the opposition to the proposed Upper Siang hydropower project. Beging is the site where state authorities and the NHPC have sought to begin core drilling work to prepare a pre-feasibility report (PFR) for the project, a step that has been stalled for a year because of local opposition.

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