Arunachal unrest was an anti-dam bandh in Pasighat, not a protest against Indian forces
Arunachal unrest was an anti-dam bandh in Pasighat, not a protest against Indian forces
Executive Summaryसारांश
The videos shared by Pakistan-linked handles as an uprising against Indian forces in Arunachal Pradesh show the violent bandh against the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project in Pasighat on October 23, 2026. According to NDTV, protesters vandalised MLAs’ homes, set fire to the NHPC’s local office and seven vehicles, and reportedly attacked parts of the Pasighat police station. The anger was over the dam, not the Army or China.The videos shared by Pakistan-linked handles as an uprising against Indian forces in Arunachal Pradesh show the violent bandh against the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project in Pasighat on October 23, 2026. According to NDTV, protesters vandalised MLAs’ homes, set fire to the NHPC’s local office and seven vehicles, and reportedly attacked parts of the Pasighat police station. The anger was over the dam, not the Army or China.
Full Reportपूरी रिपोर्ट
The Indian Army’s fact-check unit has cited an NDTV report dated October 24, 2026, and a reel by local channel The Rising Sun News to show what actually happened. Several organisations had called a shutdown against the proposed Upper Siang Multipurpose Dam. The protest turned violent on the night of Friday, October 23, in Pasighat, East Siang district, after allegations that security personnel had fired tear gas shells at bandh supporters in Geku in Upper Siang, injuring four women. Protests continued until about 4 am. The houses and residential complexes of MLAs Ninong Ering and Oni Panyang and BJP state president Kaling Moyong were attacked. Protesters set fire to the NHPC’s local office and seven vehicles, and there were reports of an attack on parts of the police station. Some protesters were also demanding the release of 10 people detained during earlier anti-dam protests, and security forces had to use force after stone-pelting and arson. The Rising Sun News, whose footage the propaganda handles reused, described the scene as tear gas being used to disperse crowds during the SUMP bandh. The unrest was a local agitation over the mega-dam’s impact on residents. It was not a revolt against the Indian Army, and it did not involve China, so claims recasting it as an anti-India uprising are false.
The Indian Army’s fact-check unit has cited an NDTV report dated October 24, 2026, and a reel by local channel The Rising Sun News to show what actually happened. Several organisations had called a shutdown against the proposed Upper Siang Multipurpose Dam. The protest turned violent on the night of Friday, October 23, in Pasighat, East Siang district, after allegations that security personnel had fired tear gas shells at bandh supporters in Geku in Upper Siang, injuring four women. Protests continued until about 4 am. The houses and residential complexes of MLAs Ninong Ering and Oni Panyang and BJP state president Kaling Moyong were attacked. Protesters set fire to the NHPC’s local office and seven vehicles, and there were reports of an attack on parts of the police station. Some protesters were also demanding the release of 10 people detained during earlier anti-dam protests, and security forces had to use force after stone-pelting and arson. The Rising Sun News, whose footage the propaganda handles reused, described the scene as tear gas being used to disperse crowds during the SUMP bandh. The unrest was a local agitation over the mega-dam’s impact on residents. It was not a revolt against the Indian Army, and it did not involve China, so claims recasting it as an anti-India uprising are false.