Assam-Arunachal border clash almost resolved: Himanta Biswa Sarma

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday, August 10 said the clash between people from Assam and Arunachal Pradesh in Dhemaji district has been “almost resolved”, following a firing incident that left several people injured and triggered tension along the inter-state border.

Sarma said the Assam government has deputed a minister, the chief secretary and the director general of police to hold discussions with their counterparts in Arunachal Pradesh to defuse the situation and prevent further escalation.

At least 18 people were injured, four of them critically, after unidentified persons from the Arunachal Pradesh side allegedly opened fire during a confrontation at Mingmang Basti along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border. The incident reportedly followed a dispute over alleged land encroachment.

The injured were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. Four critically injured persons were subsequently shifted to Assam Medical College and Hospital in Dibrugarh.

The latest confrontation came after an alleged shooting involving a Mising youth near Kangku Circle in Arunachal Pradesh’s Lower Siang district, which borders Assam’s Dhemaji district.

According to preliminary reports, the youth had gone missing and was later found with an injury to his leg. The identity of the person who allegedly shot him and the circumstances surrounding the incident have not yet been established.

The reported shooting was followed by a confrontation between residents of Dhemaji in Assam and Lower Siang in Arunachal Pradesh, raising concerns over a possible escalation of tensions in the border region.

Reports also indicated heightened tensions between members of the Mising and Galo communities following the incidents.

The Assam government has initiated coordination with the Arunachal Pradesh authorities to address the situation and restore calm along the border.