Arunachal govt releases 4 Siang dam protesters, seeks fresh dialogue
Here's the latest protest news from across India:
The Arunachal Pradesh government on Saturday rolled out four protesters detained during the agitation against the proposed 1,000-MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP), signalling an attempt to end the prolonged standoff with organisations opposing the project.
Adding to this, A formal response from SIFF is awaited. (HT Sourced Photo) The four protesters — Adum Tayom, Omak Paron, Okut Paloh and Oson Paron — were detained under the Arunachal Pradesh Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 2014, following protests in the Siang Valley.
Meanwhile, Their rollout came a day after the chief minister’s office (CMO), in a letter dated November 6, informed the Siang Indigenous Farmers’ Forum (SIFF) of the government’s decision to free the detainees as a goodwill gesture aimed at creating an atmosphere conducive to dialogue and reconciliation.
Notably, The government also approved the reinstatement of gaon buras and gaon buris (traditional village authorities) who faced disciplinary action in connection with the agitation.
As per the latest buzz, These decisions address two of the major concerns raised by SIFF, which had earlier refused to engage in talks with Chief Minister Pema Khandu until its demands were fulfilled.
In further updates, However, uncertainty remains over two other key demands — the withdrawal of security forces from the affected areas and the withdrawal of criminal cases registered against protesters.
On top of that, Responding to SIFF’s demand for the immediate withdrawal of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel, the government maintained that decisions regarding security deployment must be guided by law-and-order considerations and public safety.
It nevertheless expressed its willingness to discuss the issue during the proposed meeting, taking into account the prevailing security situation.
Source: Hindustan Times