India, Oct. 24 -- Protests against the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) turned violent in Arunachal Pradesh on Friday, October 23, as police fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators during a 12-hour bandh across Siang, Upper Siang and parts of East Siang districts. Several people were injured in clashes, while vehicles were damaged in separate incidents.

One confrontation took place at Dite-Dime near Geku in Siang district, where around 150 to 200 protesters from the Geku and Komkar areas gathered in support of the shutdown. According to police, demonstrators allegedly attempted to breach barricades, damage police vehicles and pelt security personnel with stones. Police subsequently fired tear gas shells to disperse the c...