Guwahati: Concerns are growing over the unexplained disappearance of Advocate Ebo Mili, a prominent legal advisor to the Siang Indigenous Farmers Forum (SIFF) and a vocal critic of the Arunachal Pradesh government’s hydropower policies. Mili has been missing since May 26, following a series of protests against the pre-feasibility report (PFR) survey for the controversial 12,500 MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP).
According to reliable sources and local journalist Marina Dai, an FIR was registered against Mili at the Boleng police station based on a complaint filed by Siang Deputy Commissioner PN Thungon, IAS. The complaint alleges that Mili led a mob of 80 to 90 people on May 22 at the Beging SUMP site, where nearly 400 protesters gathered under the SIFF banner, allegedly defying a prohibitory order issued by the administration. Protesters had been peacefully demonstrating against the forced deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to facilitate the PFR survey.
However, villagers from Beging have categorically denied these allegations. Speaking to The Arunachal Times, they stated that Mili was present solely in his role as legal counsel to SIFF and did not incite any violence or unrest.
Mili’s disappearance has triggered alarm among activists and civil society groups. Notably, this is not the first time he has faced state action. He has previously been detained twice for his outspoken stance against large-scale dam projects in Arunachal.
In his most recent public post on Facebook before going missing, Mili sharply criticized a recent Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signed between a village and the government, which allegedly gave consent for PFR activities. He wrote:
“Another cheap tactic used by our leaders to divide us and present a false narrative to the world, particularly to the people of Arunachal, is claiming that the villagers of Pangkang (Kumku) have given their consent and signed an MoA to allow PFR activity. In reality, only two or three people signed the MoA, while there are more than 30 households in Pangkang village, and the rest are completely unaware of any such agreement. This has been confirmed by former Head Gaon Burah, Shri Tapang Jamoh, who was arbitrarily removed from his position for questioning the government’s forceful deployment of CAPF in Siang last year.”
Mili went on to compare the tactic to similar strategies used during the NHPC 2880 MW Dibang Multipurpose Project (DMP) involving the Idu Mishmi community. He questioned the state’s recent announcement of a ₹5 crore development package for the village that signed the MoA, calling it a “blatant bribe” and a misuse of public funds:
“Is this an open bribe with public money, or was there any budget allocated to reward villages that agree to PFR activities? What development can they possibly undertake in a village they plan to submerge underwater? This is highly suspicious and amounts to blatant bribery in broad daylight.”
As per a report in Arunachal Times, on Tuesday, a meeting was held at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Boleng to discuss the security and survey operations for the SUMP project. The issue of Mili’s disappearance was raised, but no conclusive decisions were made. Police have denied that Mili is in their custody.
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