Assam-Arunachal border firing sparks violence and protests

Violence has erupted along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border in the Dhemaji district following a firing incident at Mingmang Basti. The clash, reportedly triggered by disputes over land encroachment, resulted in multiple injuries to residents from the Assam side, with reports citing between 9 and 18 people injured.

In response to the violence, the Takam Mising Porin Kebang (TMPK) and the Coordination Committee of the Tribal Organisations of Assam (CCTOA) called for a 12-hour bandh and economic blockades to protest the incident and demand justice. Tribal leaders have described the use of firearms in the long-standing boundary dispute as an unprecedented and dangerous escalation.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has called for an impartial inquiry into the incident and is coordinating with Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu to defuse tensions. While security has been tightened in the border areas, officials stated that the situation is currently under control. The two states share an 804.1-km border with approximately 1,200 points of dispute, though many sectors have already been resolved through previous agreements.