Four Protesters Detained Preventively as SIFF Youth Wing Calls for Boycott of Siang Project Talks

The state administration announced that four individuals involved in the Siang project protests have been placed under preventive detention, a measure intended to forestall further unrest. The detainees were taken into custody following a series of demonstrations against the river‑bank development scheme, which local communities claim threatens their livelihoods and the ecological balance of the region.

In parallel, the youth wing of the Siang Indigenous Front Federation (SIFF) issued a statement urging its members and supporters to boycott any forthcoming talks with government officials. The group argues that dialogue cannot proceed while the detention of protestors continues, and it demands the immediate release of those held.

Authorities have not disclosed the identities of the detained individuals or the specific legal provisions invoked. The administration, however, maintains that the action is necessary to maintain public order amid heightened tensions over the project.

The Siang project, a large‑scale hydro‑infrastructure plan on the Siang River, has faced sustained opposition from tribal groups and environmental activists across Arunachal Pradesh. The latest developments add to a growing list of confrontations between the state and civil society over the scheme's implementation.

Local law enforcement officials indicated that the preventive detention orders will be reviewed periodically, but no timeline for release has been provided. The situation remains fluid as both sides prepare for further actions.