The construction of the broad-gauge railway line from Murkonseleg in Assam to Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh (known as Murkonseleg-Pasighat railway project) has been stalled over discrepancies in land compensation and alleged mismanagement by some government officials. Responding to a discussion initiated by politician Ninong Ering in March 2021, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu informed the state Assembly that the Arunachal government would request the railway ministry, which had objected to the high price of land compensation, to expedite the completion of the project.
Commenting on the compensation rate, Khandu stated that Rs 73 crore had been paid to the affected land owners for the first phase of the railway project, covering seven kilometres. Suggesting that the district officials’ erroneous estimation had led to such high compensation rates, Khandu mentioned that the state government had appointed a Special Investigating Cell (SIC) to probe into the discrepancies related to the compensation.
Reports say that for Phase-II of the project, covering roughly 16 kilometres, the state government has fixed Rs 463.59 per square metre as the compensation rate, which is meagre in comparison to the previous rate of Rs 891 per square metre, in addition to 100 percent solatium and 12 percent interest, which the affected land owners in Assam’s Murkonseleg had received as compensation for Phase-I of the project.
Unhappy with the revised compensation rate and exclusion of factor-2 multiplication, the affected families, under the banner of Railway Project Affected Land Owners Association, gathered for a protest meeting where they appealed to the state government to scrap the new land price. Questioning the disparity in compensation between Phase-I and Phase-II, the association has demanded the revision of the compensation rate according to factor-2 multiplication. It has also demanded that the affected families be paid 12 percent interest for five years during which their farms remained unused.
On 21 April 2021, the SIC arrested Tamiyo Tatak, Arunachal Pradesh’s state research joint secretary, in connection with the irregularities in the land acquisition and compensation for the Ruksin-Pasighat segment of the railway project. On 30 September 2021, the SIC arrested Ojing Nangkar, district land revenue and settlement officer, East Siang, and his elder brother, Enyo Nangkar, director land management, Itanagar, for their alleged involvement in the case, who were earlier absconding. Both had applied for an anticipatory bail from The Gauhati High Court, which was rejected on May 4 and 6, 2021.
As of March 2025, the project has achieved 45% completion, with Phase I (Murkongselek to Sille) nearing earthwork completion and Phase II (Sille to Pasighat) advancing steadily, reflecting progress in resolving earlier disputes. The project's estimated cost has escalated from Rs 414.85 crore to Rs 1,252.49 crore due to expanded scope and inflation. According to media reports, land acquisition challenges are being addressed, with expedited processes through continuous coordination with local authorities.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Demand for promised compensation
Demand for more compensation than promised
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Region Classification
Urban
Type of Land
Private
What was the action taken by the police?
Arrest
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
1
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
Don't Know
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
Indian Penal Code (IPC)
Section 120B/ 409/ 468/ 471
PC (Prevention of Corruption) Act, 1988
Section 13(c)(d) and 13(2): Criminal misconduct by a public servant
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
Project underway despite protests
Original Project Deadline
2023
Whether the Project has been Delayed
No
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Agricultural land
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
No
Source/Reference
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
1252.49
Type of investment:
Investment Made
Year of Estimation
2025
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Legislations/Policies Involved
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Incorrect estimation of compensation
Non-implementation/violation of LARR Act
Legal Status:
Out of Court
Status of Case In Court
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
No
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Case Number
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Reported Details of the Violation:
Date of Violation
Location of Violation
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Office of the District Commissioner, East Siang; Department of Land and Revenue Management
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR)
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?
No
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
Railway Project Affected Land Owners Association
What was the action taken by the police?
Arrest
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
1
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
Don't Know
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
Indian Penal Code (IPC)
Section 120B/ 409/ 468/ 471
PC (Prevention of Corruption) Act, 1988
Section 13(c)(d) and 13(2): Criminal misconduct by a public servant
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?
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).
Ahmedabad civic body demolishes 292 illegal structures in Makarba, residents demand rehabilitation
Locals oppose GHCL's chemical plant project in Gujarat's Bada village
Tribals demand cancellation of multiple corporate projects in Karbi Anglong
Assam villagers fight to save Hatiutha Hill from granite mining
Dispute erupts after officials demolish alleged encroachment by Jumma Masjid Trust in Surat
Locals demand relocation of silicon factory in East Siang citing pollution concerns
Nalbari locals raise environmental concerns over brick kiln, stone crusher operations in Pagladiya river
Polavaram irrigation project affected families in Andhra Pradesh still awaiting rehabilitation