The Arunachal Pradesh Police has sought search warrants against journalist Tongam Rina, youth leader Otul Jerang, activist Tajong Talom, lawyer Sunny Tayeng, and others in connection with the violence that occurred during a protest against the Upper Siang dam project.
The Arunachal Pradesh Police has taken action against several individuals, including journalist Tongam Rina, youth leader Otul Jerang, activist Tajong Talom, and lawyer Sunny Tayeng, in relation to the violence that broke out in Pasighat town on October 23 during a protest against the proposed 12,500-megawatt power project on the Siang river by the government-owned National Hydroelectric Power Corporation. The police had arrested 69 persons and detained four after protesters vandalised and set fire to an office of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation and a police station in Pasighat following the use of tear gas by security personnel during the agitation. Along with Rina, the deputy editor of The Arunachal Times, the police application on Tuesday also urged the chief judicial magistrate to issue search warrants against Jerang, Talom, and Tayeng, who have been arrested in connection with the violence and are currently in judicial custody.
In a joint statement released on Thursday, the Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists and Arunachal Press Club condemned the inclusion of Rina’s name in the application for the search warrants and said that the move was ‘a serious threat to press freedom’. The media bodies also condemned the violence in Pasighat and demanded that the Arunachal Pradesh Police and state government ‘clarify the specific grounds for Rina’s inclusion in the proceedings, ensure an urgent review, and take corrective action if her inclusion is found unjustified’.
On Friday, Tayeng said she had reasons to believe she was ‘being subjected to continuous surveillance’ in connection with her legal work relating to the dam project, in which she represents Jerang, Talom, and Mili. ‘These developments are concerning, particularly in the context of my professional responsibilities as counsel’, Tayeng said about the police seeking a search warrant against her.
The Siang flows into Arunachal Pradesh from Tibet and is the Brahmaputra’s main tributary.
Source:
Scroll.in
