Pasighat, East Siang district — A violent turn to protests over the proposed 11,200-MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) left an NHPC office and a police station in flames and led to the vandalism of political leaders' residences in Pasighat late on Friday, a senior police officer said on Saturday.
Clashes after bandh
The unrest occurred shortly after a 12-hour bandh called across Siang, Upper Siang and East Siang districts to oppose the hydropower project. Pasighat Deputy Superintendent of Police Tony Tatak said the incidents took place around 11 p.m. on Friday (October 23) as protesters moved after the shutdown concluded.
"The NHPC office in the high region area of Pasighat was set ablaze, while a police station there was also torched," Mr. Tatak said, adding that authorities were assessing the extent of damage.
According to Mr. Tatak, several police personnel sustained injuries when protesters allegedly pelted them with stones. The deputy superintendent himself was among those hurt.
Vandalism and targets
Officials reported that the houses of two political figures were vandalised: the residence of the State BJP president and former MLA Kaling Moyong, and the home of Pasighat West legislator Ninong Ering. The office of the Adi Bane Kebang, the apex body of the Adi community, was also ransacked, police said.
Police further said the protesters had come from the Mebo area. Earlier in the day, clashes between demonstrators and security forces had been reported in Siang district, where authorities fired tear gas to disperse crowds during the bandh, officials added.
Scale and conduct of protesters
Officials characterised the crowd as sizeable and at times aggressive. They said around 150–200 protesters were allegedly armed with machetes, lathis and slingshots, attempted to damage police vehicles, breach barricades and attacked security personnel with thrown stones.
- Time of incident: around 11 p.m., October 23, 2026
- Primary locations: Pasighat, East Siang district (high region area, Ranaghat Bridge in Mebo)
- Property damaged: NHPC office (set ablaze), police station (torched), residences of Kaling Moyong and Ninong Ering, Adi Bane Kebang office (ransacked)
- Casualties: several injured police personnel, including the deputy superintendent (no fatalities reported in the official account)
Who called the shutdown
The bandh was called jointly by a group of local organisations opposing the hydropower project, identified by officials as the Adi Bane Kebang United, SUMP Affected Area Youth Association, Siang Indigenous Farmers' Forum Youth Wing and the Adi Galo Welfare Society. The protesters have been demanding the release of detained activists and the reinstatement — issues raised during the agitation.
Immediate response and situation assessment
Police are carrying out damage assessment at the sites and investigating the chain of events that led to arson and vandalism. Pasighat law-and-order authorities said they were examining the extent of destruction at the NHPC office and the torched police outpost and reviewing any further security measures needed in the area.
| Item | Reported |
|---|---|
| Project opposed | Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (11,200 MW) |
| Places damaged | NHPC office (high region area, Pasighat), police station |
| Leaders' residences | Kaling Moyong; Ninong Ering |
| Organisations leading bandh | Adi Bane Kebang United; SUMP Affected Area Youth Association; Siang Indigenous Farmers' Forum Youth Wing; Adi Galo Welfare Society |
Background and local impact
The proposed SUMP, conceived as a large hydropower and multipurpose project, has been the focal point of local opposition given its anticipated environmental and social impacts. The recent escalation in Pasighat underscores the depth of resistance among several tribal and community groups who fear loss of land, livelihoods and ecological change along the Siang river basin.
Damage to public infrastructure — notably the NHPC office and a police station — and the attack on community and political leaders risks wider disruption of administrative services and steady governance in East Siang. The targeting of the Adi Bane Kebang office also highlights internal tensions; the apex community body has been prominent in debates over the project's future.
What comes next
Authorities are likely to step up security and conduct formal inquiries into the violence and the claims of those arrested earlier. Local commerce and travel were already affected by the bandh. How quickly normalcy returns will depend on policing decisions, engagement with community leaders and whether authorities and protesters resume talks on the project's contested aspects.
Further official statements from district administration, NHPC and political parties are awaited to clarify the number of arrests, detailed damage assessments and steps for restoration of public order.
Reporting from East Siang district.
