Guwahati: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday appealed for peace following a fresh confrontation on the Assam–Arunachal Pradesh border, emphasising that administrative boundaries should not affect the long-standing social ties between people on both sides.
Clash in Dhemaji, police resort to firing in air
According to reports, protesters from both Assam and Arunachal Pradesh clashed in Dhemaji district, prompting police from the neighbouring state to fire warning shots to disperse the crowd. The incident took place as an indefinite economic blockade affecting Arunachal Pradesh entered its second day.
In a post on the social media platform X, Sarma appealed to residents of the two states to preserve harmony and recalled the centuries-old bonds that connect communities across the border. He tagged Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the message.
“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,”
Dialogue and remaining disputes
Sarma noted that Assam and Arunachal Pradesh have in recent years settled most of their boundary disagreements through talks, and said a small number of villages remain unresolved. He said that both governments will continue discussions in a spirit of friendship to find a final settlement.
The chief minister stated that only 52 villages remain to be resolved under the long-standing border issue, and reiterated the preference for negotiation over confrontation. The border dispute between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh has a complex administrative history: Arunachal was centrally administered after Independence, later became a Union Territory and achieved statehood in 1987. The allocation of certain territories following statehood gave rise to continuing contestation, which eventually reached the Supreme Court.
Immediate impact on local communities
The fresh confrontation and the ongoing economic blockade have immediate consequences for daily life and movement in affected areas. While specific casualty or arrest figures were not reported in the available accounts, the firing of shots in the air by police indicates a breakdown of order during the disturbance.
- Location of incident: Dhemaji district border area
- Security response: Arunachal police fired warning shots to control the mob
- Political response: Assam CM issued an appeal for peace and renewed commitment to talks
Legal and historical context
After Arunachal Pradesh became a state in 1987, a tripartite committee was set up to recommend territorial transfers; Assam contested some of those recommendations and the matter is pending before the Supreme Court. The involvement of the apex court means that while administrative steps and political dialogue can ease tensions, a definitive legal settlement may require judicial adjudication.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Villages outstanding | 52 |
| Current status | Inter‑state discussions ongoing; long‑running legal matter in Supreme Court |
Local residents in border districts often have interwoven social, cultural and economic ties that traverse administrative lines. Disruptions such as blockades and clashes therefore affect not only governance and security but daily livelihoods, market access and transport for ordinary people.
Way forward
Sarma’s appeal frames the immediate approach: keep channels of communication open between the two state governments, de‑escalate tensions on the ground and continue talks to address the remaining disputed villages. The central government’s role has also been invoked by the Assam chief minister through his social media tags, signalling the importance of Union involvement in stabilising inter‑state relations.
Until talks advance or a court ruling clarifies boundaries, local administrations and security forces in both states will face the task of preventing further violence while enabling normal life in affected border communities.
Note: This report is based on official statements and agency dispatches regarding the recent border incident and related appeals by the Assam chief minister.
