Fresh clash erupts between Assam, Arunachal protesters; Himanta appeals for peace

The Takam Mising Porin Kebang (TMPK), the apex student organisation of Assam's Mising community, and other local groups on Wednesday (August 12) launched an indefinite economic blockade against Arunachal Pradesh in protest against the alleged firing in which 12 indigenous people from Assam were injured.

Police firing after stone pelting

“When the blockade was going on, some people from Arunachal Pradesh indulged in stone pelting on protesters from Assam and some persons sustained minor injuries. This led to a scuffle between the two sides," an official told PTI.

The incident took place at Likabali entry point in Silapathar in Dhemaji district of Assam, he added.

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"Then we saw that police from Arunachal fired three rounds in the air to control the mob on their side," the Assam government official said.

At least 12 people from Assam were injured on Monday after alleged firing by miscreants from Arunachal Pradesh along the inter-state border in Dhemaji district over land encroachment issues.

What do protesters demand?

Along with TMPK, other local social groups like Mising Mimag Kebang (MMK) and Takam Mising Mahila Kebang (TMMK) are supporting the blockade and have stopped all vehicles, barring emergency and school transportation, from coming or going to Arunachal Pradesh at the entry points.

The organisations are demanding an early resolution of the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border dispute, action against the "miscreants" who had fired two days ago and an end to alleged encroachment on Assam land.

As part of the agitation, protesters blocked key entry points along the inter-state border, including roads at Dwarmukh-Banderdewa, Ruksin and Silapathar in Dhemaji, Banderdewa in Lakhimpur, Solengi in Gohpur and Pabhoi in Biswanath.

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TMPK secretary Saan Panging said, "Such incidents along the inter-state border are not new, but our government has not taken it seriously. This time, our agitation will continue till all the culprits are arrested and handed over to Assam Police."

Himanta appeals for peace

Following the fresh clash, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday appealed to both sides to maintain peace and said no boundary can divide the hearts of the people who have been living like brothers and sisters for generations.

“I appeal to the people of Assam and Arunachal to maintain peace and harmony. Boundaries may define our States, but they can never divide our hearts," Sarma said in a post on X. Tagging his Arunachal Pradesh counterpart Pema Khandu and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Sarma said that the two Northeastern states share a bond that goes far beyond boundaries.

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"For generations, our people have lived as brothers and sisters, bound by love, affection and mutual respect," he added.

Sarma stressed that the two states have resolved most of their border differences through dialogue and friendship in recent years.

"Only 52 villages remain, and both governments will continue discussions in the same spirit to resolve the dispute completely," he added.

Assam minister's talks with TMPK

Meanwhile, to hammer out a solution in respect to the withdrawal of the economic blockade, Assam Border Protection and Development Minister Atul Bora and Education Minister Ranoj Pegu are slated to hold a meeting with TMPK leadership at the Circuit House of Dhemaji.

Assam Chief Minister Sarma on Wednesday had urged his Arunachal Pradesh counterpart Khandu to order an inquiry into the incident and ensure that those responsible are punished.

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Pegu, who was deputed by Sarma to monitor the situation along border, said Khandu has promised to ensure strict action against those responsible for firing along the inter-state border.

August 10 firing

On August 10, the firing incident took place at Mingmang Basti along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border in Gogamukh revenue circle of Gerukamukh Police Station. Police said the clash erupted following a dispute over alleged encroachment by people from Arunachal Pradesh on land in Assam.

Assam and Arunachal Pradesh share an 804.1-km border in Udalguri, Sonitpur, Biswanath, Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Tinsukia, Dibrugarh and Charaideo districts, and 12 of the adjoining state.

There are 1,200 points of dispute along the inter-state border between the two states.

Border dispute

The Assam government on July 29 told the state Assembly that Arunachal Pradesh has encroached upon 16,144.01 hectares of land. Out of this encroached land, Arunachal Pradesh is claiming 858.91 sq km.

Both the states have constituted 12 regional committees for resolving the border disputes and are taking steps to resolve these issues based on recommendations of these committees, which have jointly toured the areas and held consultations with stakeholders.

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A Namsai Declaration was signed by the chief ministers of the two states on July 15, 2022, setting in motion measures to resolve differences in 123 villages of Assam claimed by Arunachal Pradesh. An MoU in this regard was later signed by the two chief ministers in the presence of the Union Home minister in the national capital on April 20, 2023.

Out of the 123 villages claimed by Arunachal Pradesh, the differences in 71 villages have been resolved and the process is on to address the issues in the remaining 52 villages.

Arunachal Pradesh was a centrally administered region initially after Independence and became a Union Territory later, before attaining full statehood in 1987.

(With inputs from agencies)