Arunachal Anti-Dam Activist Bhanu Tatak Stopped at Delhi Airport Over Pending Police Cases

Arunachal Pradesh-based lawyer and anti-dam activist Bhanu Tatak was prevented from boarding a flight to Dublin on Sunday after immigration officials at Delhi airport acted on a look out circular (LOC) linked to pending police cases in her home state.

Tatak, who serves as the legal adviser for the Siang Indigenous Farmers’ Forum, was scheduled to begin a three-month academic programme at Dublin City University next week.

Authorities in Arunachal Pradesh clarified that the LOC was connected to two specific cases registered at the Itanagar police station, and not her opposition to the proposed 11,500-MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project.

The first case dates back to 2021, when Tatak was accused of criminal trespass after allegedly barging into Itanagar’s BB Plaza mall during a protest. The second case, filed in 2022, accuses her of financing vandalism at the “Wall of Harmony” mural at the state civil secretariat. Artist Nilim Mahanta and activist Ebo Mili were also named as co-accused in the case, with police claiming financial links to Tatak.

However, the incident has sparked strong criticism from opposition groups and rights advocates. The Arunachal Pradesh Youth Congress condemned the move, calling it “state government’s high-handedness” and alleging that the timing reflects an attempt to silence dissent.

“This is in response to her role in leading protests against the Siang dam project,” the Youth Congress said in a statement. “Such acts of harassment only weaken democracy, where every individual’s rights must be respected.”

Responding to these allegations, Arunachal Pradesh IGP (Law and Order) Chukhu Apa told PTI that Tatak had “10 to 12 cases” registered against her over the past few years, insisting that the airport restriction was strictly based on law enforcement grounds.

The controversy underscores the sensitive political and environmental debate surrounding mega-dam projects in Arunachal Pradesh, where activists and local communities continue to voice concerns over displacement, ecological risks, and cultural heritage.