The Campaign Against State Repression (CASR) has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of four activists detained in Arunachal Pradesh following protests against a proposed mega-dam on the Siang River.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the campaign also called for the withdrawal of security forces from affected villages and the scrapping of the proposed project, which is expected to generate approximately 11,000 MW of electricity.
The four detained activists, Adum Tayom, Omak Paron, Okut Paloh and Oson Paron, are residents of Geku in Upper Siang district.
According to CASR, their detention followed protests against the proposed dam, which has raised concerns among local communities over displacement, environmental damage and the potential loss of ancestral lands.
The campaign said the arrests raised serious concerns about the use of repressive laws to suppress democratic dissent and criminalise communities defending their land, livelihoods and environment.
“The deployment of security forces and the detention of protesters cannot substitute for democratic consultation and public consent,” CASR said.
Residents living along the Siang River have expressed concerns about the project’s potential impact on their homes, traditional livelihoods, ecological surroundings and cultural heritage.
CASR emphasised that the river is deeply connected to Indigenous communities’ history, identity and way of life. It said those who would bear the consequences of the project must have the right to question it and participate meaningfully in decisions affecting their future.
The campaign also linked the detentions in Arunachal Pradesh to what it described as a broader pattern of criminalising anti-displacement movements and targeting Adivasi, Indigenous and other marginalised communities opposing the appropriation of land and natural resources for infrastructure and corporate projects.
Drawing a parallel with protests near Assam’s Kaziranga National Park, CASR referred to resistance by Indigenous and Adivasi communities, including tea workers and their families, against a proposed luxury hotel project. According to the statement, anti-displacement activist Pranab Doley led a movement challenging the proposed transfer of land for a luxury resort associated with Hyatt at Inglay Pathar near Kaziranga.
CASR said Assam Police arrested Doley and other activists in connection with the protests. It added that Doley was subsequently detained under the National Security Act (NSA) after securing bail in the criminal case. His detention drew condemnation from civil liberties organisations and democratic movements, the campaign said.
The statement argued that the developments in Kaziranga and the Siang Valley reflected a pattern in which communities’ objections to projects threatening their land and livelihoods were treated as security concerns rather than legitimate democratic grievances.
Noting that both Assam and Arunachal Pradesh are governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), CASR questioned the state governments’ approach towards Indigenous rights, environmental protection and democratic dissent. It accused the authorities of using coercive measures instead of ensuring meaningful consultation with affected communities.
The campaign also cited resistance to mining, industrial projects and infrastructure development in Adivasi regions of central and eastern India. In Odisha, it said, Adivasi and Dalit communities opposing bauxite mining in areas such as Sijimali had faced intimidation, police violence, arrests and criminal cases while defending their land, forests, water sources and traditional livelihoods.
CASR further raised concerns about the use of central agencies, including the National Investigation Agency (NIA), state police forces and security legislation against activists challenging government policies and development projects. It warned that the use of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), preventive detention provisions and other security laws threatened civil liberties and the right to dissent.
According to the campaign, surveillance, intimidation, arrests and prolonged legal proceedings can create an atmosphere of fear, discouraging villagers from attending public meetings, opposing land acquisition or speaking openly about proposed developments.
“Development must not come at the cost of the fundamental rights of Indigenous and Adivasi communities,” the statement said.
CASR demanded the release of the four activists, an end to the intimidation and harassment of protesters, the withdrawal of cases against those targeted for participating in peaceful demonstrations, and a halt to activities threatening communities’ land, livelihoods, culture and environment. It also called for an end to the alleged misuse of the Arunachal Pradesh Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (APUAPA), UAPA and NSA against Indigenous rights defenders, environmental activists and human rights workers.
The campaign appealed to democratic organisations, civil liberties groups, trade unions, student organisations, environmental movements and concerned citizens to stand in solidarity with the people of Arunachal Pradesh and other communities resisting displacement and environmental destruction.
Support Independent Media
Click Here and Join the Membership of Millat Times to Support Independent Media.
Support Millat Times