Arunachal Pradesh
,
Kamle/Raga
,
Kamle
Published :
Apr 2026
|
Updated :
Land, identity, and violence: Examining the Milli–Yukar clan dispute in Kamle, Arunachal Pradesh
Reported by
Sarup Sinha
Legal Review by
Anmol Gupta
Rakshit Dhingra, Amrita Chekkutty
Edited by
Anupa Kujur
Households affected
People affected
2025
Year started
ha.
Land area affected
Households affected
People Affected
2025
Year started
Land area affected
Key Insights
Sector
Land Use
Reason/Cause of conflict
Other Kind of Land Use
Conflict Status
Ongoing
Ended
Legal Status
Region Classification
Urban and Rural
Unclassifed
Sector
Land Use
Reason/Cause of conflict
Other Kind of Land Use
Conflict Status
Ongoing
Ended
Legal Status
Region Classification
Urban and Rural
Ended
1
Summary

A clash between the Milli and Yukar clans in Kamle district on 27 August 2025 left at least 15 individuals injured, reviving a long-standing land dispute that has persisted for years.

According to a situation report filed by the Officer-in-Charge of Raga Police Station, this confrontation marks the latest flare-up in the protracted dispute over land ownership between the two clans.

Officials fear the incident could trigger further violence if not contained swiftly. In response, the administration has ordered all licensed firearm holders from both clans to surrender their weapons by 27 August 2025. Officials warned that failing to do so would lead to the cancellation of their arms licenses.

In a video circulating on social media, members of two clans are seen arguing over a disputed piece of land, which eventually leads to a physical altercation.

To prevent further violence, security in the area had been increased and additional personnel were deployed. However, fresh violence erupted in September 2025 when one of the clans’ members were carrying out earth-cutting activities, which the other clan termed a blatant violation of the status quo notice issued by the Kamle district administration on 15 September. At least four persons reportedly sustained injuries and three vehicles were also torched in Poku village in Kumporijo circle.

Deputy Commissioner JT Obi invoked Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 and Section 11(4) of the RFCT LARR Act, 2013, in the notified areas, especially near the Kamala HEP (NHPC, Kamporijo) area with immediate effect. The land acquisition involves the area under Kamala Hydroelectric Project (1720 MW) that is being acquired by the Arunachal Pradesh government (via the Kamle district administration) on behalf of NHPC Limited. The DC also put a blanket ban on new construction, encroachments, earth-cutting, plantation, or any kind of land development activities in the government notified areas under the NHPC, Kamporijo.

2
Fact Sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Demand for more compensation than promised

Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Both clans make claims over the land in question.

Region Classification

Urban and Rural

Type of Land

Common

Non-Forest (Other than Grazing Land)

What was the action taken by the police?

How many people did the police detain or arrest?

What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?

Legislation under which the accused was charged

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)

Status of Project

Original Project Deadline

Whether the Project has been Delayed

Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users

Other natural resource collection/dependence, Ecosystem/Environmental Services

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

Source/Reference

Total investment involved (in Crores):

Type of investment:

Year of Estimation

Page Number In Investment Document:

Has the Conflict Ended?

No

When did it end?

Why did the conflict end?

4
Additional Information

Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:

District administration of Kamle; Arunachal Pradesh Police

PSUs Involved in the Conflict:

Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?

No

Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached

Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:

Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?

Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:

5
Information on the use of criminal law

What was the action taken by the police?

How many people did the police detain or arrest?

What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?

Legislation under which the accused was charged

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Legal Supporting Documents

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Author
Reported by
Sarup Sinha

Sarup is a researcher and doctoral student in Political Science at the North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong. His research interests lie in the area of ethnic and land conflicts, political ecology and development and urban spaces of Northeast India. He has a Masters’ degree in Development Studies from the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati. He has previously done research/internships with NABARD, Oxford Microfinance Initiative (renamed Oxford Development Consultancy) and CSDS (Lokniti Programme).

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Fact sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Demand for more compensation than promised

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Status of Project

Original Project Deadline

Whether the Project has been Delayed

Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users

Other natural resource collection/dependence, Ecosystem/Environmental Services

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

Source/Reference

JOIN
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Exclusive monthly policy briefs, stories from the ground, Quarterly Analytics report, Curated Expert talks, merchandise and much more.


Support our work.
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