North Lakhimpur/Dhemaji, Aug 13: The Assam government on Thursday said that miscreants from Arunachal Pradesh fired inside Assam’s territory in an area it regards as not disputed, identifying four suspects and asking Arunachal Pradesh authorities to hand them over, PTI reported.
Demand for custody and immediate protest
Assam Education Minister Ranoj Pegu told reporters after a meeting with leaders of the Takam Mising Porin Kebang (TMPK) at Dhemaji Circuit House that Assam Police have recorded an FIR naming four persons allegedly involved in the shooting at Badati village of Mingmang panchayat in Dhemaji district. He said the accused are from Hime village in Arunachal Pradesh and that their names and addresses have been shared with Arunachal Pradesh police, with Assam seeking their custody.
“As per information, four people from Arunachal Pradesh fired on people from Assam at Badati village of Mingmang panchayat in Dhemaji district. The incident did not take place in any disputed land, it was clearly Assam’s territory as per our records,” Ranoj Pegu said.
The TMPK, the apex student body representing the Mising community, has set a 48-hour ultimatum for the Arunachal Pradesh administration to arrest and hand over the four named in the FIR. TMPK president Tilak Doley said the organisation would intensify its agitation if the demand is not met.
Economic blockade and local clashes
On Wednesday, TMPK and allied local groups began an indefinite economic blockade of Arunachal Pradesh, stopping traffic at entry points except for emergency and school transportation. The protest was launched in response to the alleged firing on Monday that, officials say, left 12 indigenous persons from Assam injured.
PTI reporting also said a fresh clash occurred on Thursday between protesters from Assam and people from Arunachal Pradesh. Assam police officials said Arunachal Pradesh Police fired three rounds into the air on their side to disperse a mob after stone-pelting; some persons sustained injuries during the scuffle.
What protesters want
- Immediate arrest and handing over of the four people named in the FIR;
- Action against those responsible for the alleged firing that injured 12 people;
- An expedited settlement of long-pending boundary disputes and an end to alleged encroachment of Assam land.
Officials and political response
Assam’s delegation to the meeting included Border Protection and Development Minister Atul Bora. TMPK leaders told the Assam government they were satisfied with its stated position on the incident, according to officials present.
Ranoj Pegu said Assam Police would arrest the named persons whenever they were found inside Assam’s territory. The TMPK president, Tilak Doley, reiterated the 48-hour deadline and warned of further escalation if the accused were not produced.
Background to the dispute
Assam and Arunachal Pradesh share a long and sometimes contested boundary. According to government figures cited in reports, the two states share an 804.1-km border with around 1,200 points of dispute. The states have constituted 12 regional committees to take up boundary issues.
In recent years there have been efforts to put the disputes on a structured footing. The chief ministers signed the Namsai Declaration on July 15, 2022, which aimed to pave the way for resolving differences over villages claimed by Arunachal Pradesh. A memorandum of understanding on boundary issues was subsequently signed on April 20, 2023.
| Item | Figure / Detail |
|---|---|
| Border length | 804.1 km |
| Points of dispute | Approximately 1,200 |
| Villages referenced in talks | 123 |
Implications and next steps
The economic blockade has disrupted vehicular movement to and from Arunachal Pradesh, affecting trade and daily life in border areas. Assam authorities have said the accused will be arrested if they enter Assam; TMPK has insisted the agitation will escalate unless the accused are produced within 48 hours.
Both states have institutional mechanisms to address boundary disputes, but local tensions and allegations of violence can quickly inflame sentiment on both sides. The situation remains fluid; state police and administration sources said investigations and inter-state coordination were underway.
