Chakma refugee funeral sparks violent clash with locals in Arunachal's Papum Pare

A funeral-related dispute turned violent in Kokila, Hollongi area of Arunachal Pradesh's Papumpare district, when Chakma refugees and local villagers clashed over land use, raising serious concerns about long-standing ethnic and territorial tensions in the region.

The conflict erupted after Chakma refugees reportedly attempted to cremate a body on a plot of land that local villagers claim as their own. According to eyewitness accounts, what began as an argument quickly escalated into a physical confrontation between the two groups.

No official confirmation of injuries has been released, but sources indicate the situation was volatile and required police intervention.

The incident has brought renewed focus on the fragile relationship between the Chakma refugee community and indigenous residents. The Chakmas, along with Hajongs, were settled in parts of Arunachal Pradesh, including Kokila and Hollongi, decades ago under a government rehabilitation programme. Though their settlement was intended to be temporary, tensions over land ownership, identity, and resource access have persisted.

Local leaders and civil society groups are now calling for urgent intervention by the state government to defuse the situation and prevent further violence. Community members on both sides have expressed frustration over the lack of a long-term solution, which they say has left them in a state of uncertainty for years.