Itanagar, Nov. 7 -- The Arunachal Pradesh government on Saturday released 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.

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.

Their release 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...