India, Oct. 23 -- At least four women were hospitalised after police reportedly fired tear gas shells to disperse protesters at Dite-Dime near Geku in Arunachal Pradesh during a 12-hour bandh against the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) on Friday, even as police accused a group of protesters of attempting to breach barricades and attacking security personnel.

The incident occurred at the 65 Bridge in Dite-Dime, where a large number of people had gathered in support of the shutdown when tensions escalated around 7 am.

Sources told HT that four women were admitted to Geku hospital after experiencing breathing difficulties following exposure to tear gas. Some of them were reportedly directly hit by tear gas shells.

Several vehicles...