A 12-hour shutdown called by the People's Rights Action Committee (PRAC) in the Itanagar Capital Region (ICR) on 4 November 2026 drew a mixed response — government offices remained functional, commercial establishments and shops stayed shut, and vehicular traffic continued under tight security. The bandh was called to demand the release of individuals detained during the October 23 protests against the proposed 11,200-MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) across Siang, East Siang, and Upper Siang districts.

How the Shutdown Played Out

'The shutdown was peaceful. There was no report of any law-and-order problem or untoward incident,' a police official said. Roads across the capital region remained largely deserted despite vehicles continuing to ply, police added. Around 30 protesters attempted to march from Bage Tinali near Nirjuli towards Indira Gandhi Park in Itanagar, but were dispersed by police personnel.

Additional security personnel were deployed at sensitive locations, including the Civil Secretariat and Lok Bhavan, as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order.

Key Demands Behind the Bandh

PRAC's demands go beyond the release of detainees. The committee is also pressing for the withdrawal of security forces deployed in project-affected areas, the revocation of suspension orders against Gaonburas (village headmen), and the suspension of survey activities for the Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) of the proposed project. Additionally, PRAC has raised several civic issues, including proper road maintenance in the ICR, availability of essential medicines, and improvement of ambulance services.

Adi Galo Welfare Society Begins Foot March

Separately, the Adi Galo Welfare Society launched a foot march from Geku in Upper Siang district towards Itanagar on Wednesday to register its own opposition to the mega-dam planned on the Siang River. The marchers are demanding the immediate withdrawal of paramilitary and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel from villages affected by the proposed project, as well as the unconditional release of all those arrested or detained in connection with recent anti-dam protests and clashes.

Broader Opposition to the Siang Project

The protests reflect growing resistance in parts of Arunachal Pradesh to the 11,200-MW SUMP, one of India's most ambitious proposed hydropower undertakings. Critics argue that the project poses risks to riverside communities, agricultural land, and the ecological balance of the Siang valley. The deployment of security forces in affected villages has further deepened local anxieties. This is not the first time residents of the Siang belt have mobilised — opposition to large-scale dam projects in the region has simmered for years, periodically flaring into organised protests.

With the Adi Galo Welfare Society's foot march now underway and detainees yet to be released, the situation in the Itanagar Capital Region is likely to remain tense in the days ahead.