Fresh Tension at Assam-Arunachal Border: 18 Injured, 4 Critical
The injured were taken to hospitals for treatment, with four in critical condition being shifted to Dibrugarh Medical College and Hospital, security sources said.
Guwahati: Fresh tension flared along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border on Monday morning after unidentified men from the Arunachal side opened fire in which at least 18 Assamese villagers were injured, four of them critically in a confrontation over land dispute at Mingmang Basti in Assam’s Dhemaji district.
Informing that the confrontation stemmed from a dispute over alleged encroachment in the border area at Mingmang Basti, security sources said that incident escalated into firing.
The injured were taken to hospitals for treatment, with four in critical condition being shifted to Dibrugarh Medical College and Hospital, security sources said.
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the chief secretaries of the two states were in discussions and that the directors general of police were also coordinating to diffuse tensions.
“Assam Police reinforcements have reached the location. We need to de-escalate the situation. At the same time, I have directed the Assam Police that under no circumstances should Assam lose even an inch of its land,” said the chief minister.
The latest confrontation comes against the backdrop of decades of boundary disagreements between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. The two states have been holding talks to resolve the dispute through dialogue and demarcation, but several pockets along the border remain sensitive.
Some of those injured have been identified as Durgeshwar (or Durgheswar) Patir, Rohit Doley (or Dole), Nagaraj Doley, Bigneshwar (or Biggeshwar) Patir, Pame Pegu, Sanjay Tayung, Utpal Doley and Jan (or Jaan) Doley.
Authorities on both sides are expected to investigate the incident thoroughly and take steps to prevent further escalation. The situation remained tense but under monitoring as of the latest available updates on Monday afternoon.
It is significant that two neighbouring states are also engaged in resolving the border disputes through talks. Arunachal Pradesh home minister Mama Natung on July 28 had said that the state government is committed to resolving all pending inter-state boundary disputes through regional committees and urged people living along the Assam-Arunachal border to maintain peace and harmony.
Referring to the recent tension along the inter-state boundary in the Tarasso area, the minister had said that border disputes in five districts have already been resolved, while discussions are underway to settle issues in the remaining districts.
