Itanagar, Sept. 30 -- Protests against the deployment of central paramilitary forces for surveys for a hydropower project on the Siang river at Beging in Arunachal Pradesh's East Siang district intensified on Wednesday, with demonstrators blocking roads, clashing with security personnel and allegedly vandalising the residence of a local legislator during chief minister Pema Khandu's visit to Yingkiong.

Raising their voices against the proposed over 10,000-MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) and the government's move to carry out a Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) survey, protesters demanded an immediate halt to survey activities and the withdrawal of security forces from project-affected areas.

The agitation disrupted movement along ...