A fresh confrontation erupted on Thursday along the Assam–Arunachal Pradesh border at the Likabali entry point in Silapathar, prompting Arunachal Pradesh police to fire three rounds in the air to disperse a mob as an indefinite economic blockade entered its second day, officials said.
What happened at the border
Protesters from Assam, enforcing a blockade called by the Takam Mising Porin Kebang (TMPK) and allied groups, were stopping vehicles travelling to and from Arunachal Pradesh when members from Arunachal allegedly engaged in stone-pelting, an Assam government official said. Some people sustained minor injuries, according to the official.
"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 said.
To control the situation on their side of the border, the official said, Arunachal Pradesh police fired three rounds in the air. No deaths were reported in the incident, and authorities characterised the firing as aimed at dispersing the crowd.
Background to the blockade
The blockade was launched on Wednesday after an earlier episode in which 12 people from Assam were allegedly injured in firing by miscreants from Arunachal Pradesh along the inter-state border. The groups enforcing the shutdown — TMPK, the Mising Mimag Kebang (MMK) and the Takam Mising Mahila Kebang (TMMK) — have allowed only emergency and school transportation through entry points.
The protesters have listed a set of demands that centre on long-standing boundary disputes and alleged encroachment. They demand a speedy settlement of the Assam–Arunachal border issue, action against those accused in the earlier firing incident and an end to encroachment on land claimed by Assam.
| Issue | Demands / Action |
|---|---|
| Border dispute | Early settlement of long-standing Assam–Arunachal boundary issues |
| Alleged firing | Action against those accused of firing that injured 12 people from Assam |
| Encroachment | End to alleged encroachment on Assam land |
Local impact and authorities' response
The blockade has disrupted normal vehicular movement across the border; protesters have permitted only vehicles on emergency duty and school buses. Local administration sources said law-and-order teams from both states have been monitoring the situation to prevent escalation.
Officials in Assam described the scene as a scuffle triggered after stone-pelting by some people from Arunachal on protesters enforcing the blockade. The use of aerial firing by Arunachal police was described by the Assam official as an attempt to control the mob on their side.
- Days affected: Blockade entered its second day on Thursday.
- Police action: Arunachal Pradesh police fired three rounds in the air to disperse the crowd.
- Groups involved: TMPK, MMK and TMMK enforcing the blockade.
Wider context
The Assam–Arunachal border has been the site of periodic tensions for years, with local organisations periodically resorting to protests to press land and boundary claims. The present shutdown followed reports that 12 people from Assam had been injured in an earlier firing incident along the inter-state boundary, which the protesting organisations have cited as a trigger for their action.
Authorities on both sides face the immediate task of restoring free movement and preventing further clashes while also addressing the protesters' demands for accountability and resolution of boundary-related grievances. In past episodes, police deployments and talks between district administrations have been used to ease tensions temporarily, but activists argue for a durable political settlement.
What authorities and travellers should note
Residents and motorists planning travel through the Silapathar–Likabali entry are advised to seek updates from district administrations and police before commencing journeys. With only emergency and school transport permitted, commercial movement is likely to remain affected until the blockade is lifted or an agreement is reached.
Both Assam and Arunachal authorities have been reported as monitoring the situation; any formal statements, investigations or sanctions relating to the earlier alleged firing and the fresh clashes were not detailed in the initial reports.
Further developments, including official responses from state police or district administrations and any steps toward negotiation with the protest leaders, are awaited.
