Ruskin (Arunachal Pradesh): A 12-hour shutdown was observed across three districts of Arunachal Pradesh on Friday over the demand for the release of 10 protesters detained for opposing the construction of a large dam on the Siang River, disrupting normal life, transportation and commercial activities, ANI reported.

Source: ANI via LatestLY — 12-hour shutdown in Arunachal over demand to release 10 protesters, Oct 23, 2026

The shutdown, from 5 am to 5 pm, was called by the Adi Bane Kebang United (ABKU) in collaboration with SAYA, the Adi Galo Welfare Society, SIFF and SIFFYW across Siang, Upper Siang and East Siang districts, according to ANI.

According to reports cited by ANI, the 10 individuals were taken into custody by the state administration around 20 days ago following protests against the proposed dam project in Upper Siang district. Various organisations have repeatedly demanded their release.

Source: ANI via Daily Prabhat — 12-hour shutdown in Arunachal over demand to release 10 protesters, Oct 23, 2026

The organisations warned that if all 10 detained protesters are not released within the next 24 hours, they will intensify their agitation, potentially by calling a wider shutdown, ANI reported.

Travellers, including patients, left stranded

The shutdown affected travellers moving to and from different parts of the country, including Assam, with people seeking medical treatment among those facing difficulties, ANI reported. A man travelling from Odisha to obtain medicine for his mother, who has liver cancer, told reporters he was unaware of the shutdown and was left stranded after a checkpost was closed and his bus turned back. He appealed for exemptions for medical emergencies and students appearing for examinations. A woman travelling from Siliguri with two other patients also described the difficulties caused by the shutdown.

Opponents of the proposed Siang hydropower project say they fear displacement, environmental damage and loss of land and cultural heritage for the Indigenous Adi community, for whom the Siang River is central to life and identity — concerns reported by Saptashwa TV in its coverage of the shutdown. Those concerns are the protesters' stated position; the administration's response to Friday's shutdown had not been detailed in the reports cited here.

Source: Saptashwa TV — Arunachal shutdown over detention of 10 anti-dam protesters, Oct 23, 2026