Arunachal Pradesh gets new DGP days after violent protest against Siang dam

More than 30 people were detained after a violent protest in the State’s Siang region on October 23 and 24 against the proposed 11,200-megawatt Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) on the Siang River. File

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Tuesday (November 3, 2026) replaced Arunachal Pradesh’s Director General of Police (DGP). This comes amid protests in the State against the proposed Siang hydropower project and the demand by local communities for accountability against alleged police high-handedness directed at the protesters since October 23.

Rajesh Kumar, a 1995 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, has been appointed the new DGP, replacing SDS Jamwal, an order said. Mr. Jamwal has been sent to Delhi.

Mr. Kumar, who has till now been posted as Special Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Jammu and Kashmir, was repatriated to his parent cadre — the Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram, and Union Territories (AGMUT) cadre — on Monday evening. He helmed the CRPF in J&K when the three terrorists who carried out the 2025 Pahalgam attack were killed in “Operation Mahadev” on July 28, 2025, in a joint operation by the CRPF, the J&K Police and the Army.

His predecessor in Arunachal Pradesh, Mr. Jamwal, had been the police chief of Ladakh when at least four people were killed in police firing in Leh city on September 24, 2025, after a protest to demand constitutional safeguards for the region turned violent. Mr. Jamwal became the DGP of Arunachal Pradesh on January 2.

On October 23 and 24, more than 30 people were detained after a violent protest in the State’s Siang region against the proposed 11,200-megawatt Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) on the Siang River. Locals say the project would spell disaster for the land and its people, but the government claims it would minimise the impact of a 60,000-MW project China is building across the border.

On November 2, Chief Minister Pema Khandu, through an open letter, reached out to local residents protesting against the project, saying their concerns would be addressed through open dialogue, transparency and meaningful public consultation.

Mr. Khandu said that the State government would move forward only with due consideration for the aspirations and interests of the local people.

He said that over the past few months, he has seen the growing confusion and apprehension surrounding the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project.

“I understand why our mothers, elders, youth, and families are worried about what may happen to their land, their homes, and Aane Siang. When people hear different and sometimes conflicting versions, fear and uncertainty are natural," he said.