A fresh clash between protesters from Assam and persons from Arunachal Pradesh occurred on Thursday at the Likabali entry point in Silapathar, Dhemaji district, police and local officials said, as an indefinite economic blockade of Arunachal Pradesh entered its second day.
Authorities said the confrontation followed a blockade launched on Wednesday by the Takam Mising Porin Kebang (TMPK) and allied community groups to protest an alleged incident of firing two days earlier along the inter‑State border, in which 12 people from Assam were reported injured.
An Assam government official said protesters had been stopping vehicles at several entry points to pressure authorities for action and redressal of grievances related to alleged encroachment. He said stone‑throwing broke out during the blockade when some people from Arunachal Pradesh were present near the Silapathar entry point, causing minor injuries on both sides.
"Then we saw that police from Arunachal fired three rounds in the air to control the mob on their side," an Assam government official said.
Police in the area described the firing as aimed at dispersing the crowd. No fatalities have been reported so far. The blockade organisers have exempted emergency services and school transport but have stopped all other vehicular movement to and from Arunachal Pradesh at key border entry points.
Locations affected
Protesters have blocked multiple crossing points along the Assam–Arunachal border, affecting day‑to‑day movement and trade. Officials listed the main sites targeted by the agitation.
| Entry point | District / Area |
|---|---|
| Likabali (Silapathar) | Dhemaji |
| Dwarmukh–Banderdewa | Assam–Arunachal inter‑State link |
| Ruksin | Along border routes |
| Banderdewa (Lakhimpur) | Lakhimpur |
| Solengi (Gohpur) | Sonitpur area |
| Pabhoi (Biswanath) | Biswanath |
The TMPK has been joined in the agitation by other local bodies including the Mising Mimag Kebang (MMK) and the Takam Mising Mahila Kebang (TMMK). The organisations are demanding prompt action against those they allege fired along the border on August 10 and a halt to further encroachments on land claimed by Assam.
- Demand 1: Action against alleged miscreants who fired two days earlier.
- Demand 2: Resolution of longstanding Assam–Arunachal border disputes, including alleged encroachments.
- Immediate impact: Suspension of most vehicular movement at several border entry points, with exceptions for emergencies and school transport.
Officials said talks between local authorities and the protest groups were being sought to defuse the situation. The Assam official noted that such border incidents have a history, and that protesters were pressing for faster political and administrative action after the recent injuries.
On Monday, alleged firing from across the border had injured 12 indigenous people from Assam, according to local reports. Those incidents have been cited by the TMPK and allied bodies as the trigger for the present indefinite blockade. The matter of territorial transfers between the two States has a long legal and administrative history, with a tripartite committee and judicial proceedings having addressed boundary questions in the past.
Law‑and‑order authorities in both States have been urged to exercise restraint and avoid escalation. Local police contingents have been deployed at affected entry points to monitor movement and prevent further clashes.
Residents in border communities said the blockade disrupted daily commerce and movement. Traders and transport operators reported that goods and passengers were being turned back at several crossings, though medical and essential services were reportedly being allowed through.
There was no immediate comment from the Arunachal Pradesh government in the first reports of Thursday’s clash. State and district administration officials in Assam said they were engaging with community leaders and seeking to restore normalcy while ensuring safety along the border.
