2 weeks ago
Fresh Clash Erupts Along Assam-Arunachal Border, Police Fire in Air
Two neighbouring states in India, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, are arguing over their long border.
People say villagers from Arunachal Pradesh are using land that belongs to Assam.
On Monday, a fight at the border left 12 people from Assam hurt, reportedly after gunfire.
To show they were upset, a student group called TMPK and other local groups stopped vehicles from going to Arunachal Pradesh.
This is called an economic blockade because it blocks goods and travel between the states.
On Thursday, stones were thrown and a new clash broke out, so police fired shots into the air to stop the fighting.
The protesters want the people who fired to be arrested and handed over to Assam Police.
The chief ministers of both states said they will look into what happened.
Ministers will meet the student leaders to try to end the blockade peacefully.
Both states have already fixed 71 of the 123 disputed villages, with 52 still left to work out.
A fresh clash erupted at the Likabali entry point in Silapathar, Dhemaji district, on Thursday, when stone-pelting led to a scuffle and Arunachal Pradesh Police fired three rounds in the air, amid tensions between local Mising and Galo communities.
The Takam Mising Porin Kebang (TMPK), backed by the Mising Mimag Kebang (MMK) and Takam Mising Mahila Kebang (TMMK), launched an indefinite economic blockade against Arunachal Pradesh on Wednesday over the alleged August 10 firing that injured 12 people from Assam (one report says 11).
Protesters blocked all vehicles except emergency and school transport at entry points including Silapathar, Ruksin, Dwarmukh-Banderdewa, Banderdewa, Solengi and Pabhoi, demanding the arrest and handover of the 'miscreants' who fired, an end to alleged encroachment, and early resolution of the border dispute.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma called for restraint and dialogue and said Arunachal Chief Minister Pema Khandu 'must' order an inquiry, while ministers Atul Bora and Ranoj Pegu will meet TMPK leadership at the Dhemaji Circuit House.
Of 123 villages claimed by Arunachal Pradesh, 71 disputes have been resolved and 52 remain, amid an 804.1-km border with 1,200 dispute points and alleged encroachment of 16,144.01 hectares of Assam land.
- Who
- Protesters from Assam's Takam Mising Porin Kebang (TMPK) and allied groups such as the Mising Mimag Kebang (MMK) and Takam Mising Mahila Kebang (TMMK); Arunachal Pradesh Police and CRPF personnel; Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu.
- What
- A fresh clash erupted during the second day of an indefinite economic blockade against Arunachal Pradesh; after stone-pelting led to a scuffle, Arunachal police fired three rounds in the air to control the crowd.
- Where
- Likabali entry point in Silapathar, Dhemaji district, Assam; the August 10 firing was at Mingmang Basti under the Gogamukh revenue circle of Gerukamukh Police Station.
- When
- The fresh clash occurred on Thursday, August 13, the second day of the blockade launched on Wednesday, August 12; the alleged firing took place on Monday, August 10.
- Why
- Protest against alleged firing that injured 12 people from Assam and against alleged encroachment of Assam land by people from Arunachal Pradesh, with demands for action against the culprits and early resolution of the border dispute.
Assam protesters (TMPK & allied groups)
Arunachal side & both state governments
Responsibility for the August 10 firing
Assam protesters (TMPK & allied groups)
Miscreants from Arunachal Pradesh fired on indigenous people from Assam on August 10, injuring 12, and the culprits must be arrested and handed over to Assam Police.
Arunachal side & both state governments
Arunachal Chief Minister Pema Khandu has promised an inquiry and strict action against those responsible; during Thursday's clash, police say they fired only in the air to control the mob on their side.
Territorial claims and encroachment
Assam protesters (TMPK & allied groups)
Arunachal Pradesh has allegedly encroached on 16,144.01 hectares of Assam land and the encroachment must end.
Arunachal side & both state governments
Arunachal Pradesh is claiming 858.91 sq km of that land, and the dispute should be handled through the 12 regional committees, the Namsai Declaration/MoU framework, and the Supreme Court process.
Blockade vs dialogue as tactics
Assam protesters (TMPK & allied groups)
The indefinite economic blockade is necessary because border incidents keep recurring and the government has not taken them seriously; the agitation will continue until all culprits are arrested.
Arunachal side & both state governments
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has called for restraint, saying the states should resolve differences through dialogue rather than confrontation, and ministers are meeting TMPK leaders to end the blockade.
Key facts
- People injured in Aug 10 firing
- 12 indigenous people from Assam (one report says 11)
- Rounds fired by Arunachal police on Thursday
- 3 (in the air)
- Fresh clash location
- Likabali entry point, Silapathar, Dhemaji district, Assam
- Original firing location
- Mingmang Basti, Gogamukh revenue circle, Gerukamukh Police Station, Aug 10
- Border length
- 804.1 km across eight districts of Assam
- Boundary dispute points
- 1,200
- Disputed villages
- 123 claimed by Arunachal Pradesh; 71 resolved, 52 pending
- Alleged encroachment
- 16,144.01 hectares; Arunachal Pradesh claims 858.91 sq km of it
Quotes
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma
Chief Minister of Assam
“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. Then we saw that police from Arunachal fired three rounds in the air to control the mob on their side.”
telegraphindia.com
deccanchronicle.com
“"Such incidents along the inter‑state border are not new, but our government has not taken it seriously. This time, our agitation will continue till all the culprits are arrested and handed over to Assam Police."”
telegraphindia.com
theprint.in
Sources
Fresh clash erupts along Assam-Arunachal border, police fire in air to control mob
Fresh clash erupts along Assam-Arunachal border, police fires in air to disperse mob
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