Mobile internet suspended in India's Upper Siang amid anti-dam protests
Authorities in Arunachal Pradesh have cut mobile internet access in the Upper Siang district ahead of a 36-hour protest against a large-scale hydropower project.
Mobile internet services in India’s Upper Siang district were suspended starting Sunday night, November 1, in anticipation of a 36-hour strike against the proposed 11,200 MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP). The shutdown comes as local opposition to the dam development intensifies.
The strike, which began early Monday morning, resulted in the closure of shops and schools in Yingkiong and Geku. While district authorities labeled the protest illegal, police reported that the situation remained largely peaceful as of Monday afternoon, with no reports of significant violence despite ongoing road blockades. Neighboring districts not affected by the internet blackout are reportedly operating normally.
The Siang Indigenous Farmers’ Forum (SIFF) and the youth group SAAYA are spearheading the opposition. Protesters are demanding the release of individuals detained during earlier demonstrations, the suspension of project feasibility surveys, and the withdrawal of central paramilitary forces from the region. The standoff follows a series of violent incidents in October, which led to the preemptive detention of several activists.
The demonstration is scheduled to continue until Tuesday afternoon. Authorities maintain that the internet suspension is a necessary measure to manage public order during the period of heightened tension.