Clash erupts in Dhemaji as blockade over alleged encroachment persists
A confrontation between protesters from Assam and Arunachal Pradesh took place on Thursday in Dhemaji district of Assam, a day after an indefinite economic blockade was imposed against Arunachal Pradesh, officials said. The Arunachal Pradesh Police fired three rounds in the air to disperse the mob on their side of the border, according to police sources cited by PTI.
The blockade was launched by the Mising student organisation Takam Mising Porin Kebang (TMPK) together with other local groups in Assam. The protesters have stopped all vehicles travelling to and from Arunachal Pradesh, except for emergency and school transportation, the report said.
The indefinite action followed a violent incident on Monday in which “miscreants” from Arunachal Pradesh were alleged to have fired on people in Assam, injuring 12, police officials said. That episode was linked to a dispute over alleged land encroachment by persons from Arunachal Pradesh into Assam.
What unfolded on Thursday
According to the PTI account of police statements, a scuffle began when people from Arunachal Pradesh reportedly pelted stones at protesters enforcing the blockade. Some persons sustained injuries in the ensuing confrontation, prompting Arunachal Pradesh Police to fire three rounds in the air to control the mob.
“When the blockade was going on, some people from Arunachal Pradesh indulged in stone pelting on protesters from Assam,” an Assam government official was quoted as saying.
There was no immediate information on any arrests or the nature and extent of injuries from Thursday’s clash. The blockade points remain manned, and vehicular movement continues to be restricted at entry points, PTI reported.
Background: a long-running boundary dispute
Assam and Arunachal Pradesh share an 804.1‑km boundary with around 1,200 points of dispute. The two state governments have established 12 regional committees to address the contested sections of the boundary.
Significant recent steps include the Namsai Declaration signed on July 15, 2022, by the chief ministers of the two states, which aimed to facilitate resolution of differences over disputed villages. The administrations later signed a memorandum of understanding on April 20, 2023, to advance the settlement process.
Demands and immediate grievances
- Action against those alleged to have fired on Assam residents on Monday, which injured 12 people;
- Early settlement of the long‑pending Assam‑Arunachal boundary dispute;
- An end to the alleged encroachment of Assam land by people from Arunachal Pradesh.
Protest leaders and local groups have insisted the blockade will continue until these demands are addressed, the report said.
Official responses
The PTI dispatch cited unidentified Assam and Arunachal police officials for the account of events. Chief ministers of both states — Assam’s Himanta Biswa Sarma and Arunachal Pradesh’s Pema Khandu — had earlier called for peace following prior incidents, and the two administrations have been engaged in talks to manage tensions along the border.
Neither state government provided an immediate detailed public statement specifically responding to Thursday’s clash in the PTI report. Local law‑and‑order deployment and monitoring of blockade points were reported to be ongoing.
Impact on civilians and transport
The economic blockade has disrupted routine movement and trade between the two states. With non‑essential vehicles stopped at entry points, residents and businesses on both sides face inconvenience and possible supply disruptions. Emergency and school transportation have been allowed to pass, but the broader economic and social consequences could grow if the blockade continues.
What happens next
Authorities from Assam and Arunachal Pradesh have in the past used the regional committees and high‑level meetings to de‑escalate tensions. Continued talks between state officials, tighter policing at disputed points and intervention by district administrations are likely steps to contain further incidents. For now, local authorities have emphasised restraint while the blockade and protests remain in force, according to the PTI report.
| Key datum | Detail |
|---|---|
| Border length | 804.1 km |
| Dispute points | ~1,200 |
| Injured (Monday incident) | 12 |
| Rounds fired by Arunachal police (Thursday) | 3 |
