Chief Minister Pema Khandu's two-day visit to Siang and Upper Siang districts ended amid protests and road blockades over the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP), as villagers opposed the proposed Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) process, arguing that their concerns should be addressed before surveys and other activities begin. PFR activities have not yet started at the proposed dam sites, but residents have opposed the movement of machinery and the heavy deployment of additional paramilitary forces. The deployment of additional forces has become a major flashpoint, with the entire valley now heavily filled with security personnel. Khandu has repeatedly said that the government is open to dialogue. He stated that the government would not forcibly implement the project and offered to meet representatives of communities opposing it. At the same time, he has been adamant that the PFR be carried out. People have already made their stand clear on what they want. The state should reflect on whether it did the right thing by militarising the area. It should clearly see that forcefully deploying troops was a mistake, thereby inviting the beginning of hostilities.