Tension escalates in Lower Siang after firing along Assam-Arunachal border leaves 18 injured, 4 critical

At least 18 people were injured, four of them critically, after unidentified persons from the Arunachal Pradesh side allegedly opened fire during a confrontation along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border, escalating tension in the sensitive border region.
 

The firing was reported at Mingmang Basti following a dispute over alleged land encroachment. The injured were taken to nearby hospitals, while four critically injured persons were shifted to Assam Medical College and Hospital in Dibrugarh for treatment.
 

The latest incident came after an alleged shooting of a Mising youth near Kangku Circle in Lower Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh, bordering 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 leading to the incident are yet to be ascertained.
 

The reported shooting was followed by a confrontation between people from Assam’s Dhemaji district and Lower Siang, raising concerns of further tension in the border area. There were also reports of heightened tension between members of the Mising and Galo communities.
 

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said discussions were underway between the Chief Secretaries of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh to address the situation. He added that the Directors General of Police of both states were also looking into the developments.
 

Sarma made it clear that Assam would not compromise on its territorial interests.
 

“Assam’s land will not be surrendered under any circumstances,” he said, adding that reinforcements had already been dispatched to the affected area.
 

The incident comes against the backdrop of the long-standing boundary dispute between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. Several areas along the inter-state boundary have remained sensitive, with disputes over land and alleged encroachment occasionally leading to confrontations.
 

Authorities are monitoring the situation and efforts are underway to prevent further escalation in the border areas.