Assam CM Seeks Probe into Border Firing, Appeals for Withdrawal of Blockade
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said he may request Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu to order an inquiry into the recent firing incident along the inter-State border and ensure that those responsible are identified and punished.
The incident occurred at Mingmang-Badati in Dhemaji district, one of the areas where Assam and Arunachal Pradesh continue to have unresolved boundary differences. Several Assam residents were reportedly injured in the firing.
Sarma said considerable progress has been made in resolving the long-standing boundary dispute between the two states, with disagreements now limited to a few sectors.
“Yesterday’s incident was painful. Primarily, we have already settled our boundary disputes in almost all sectors. Only in five sectors are some disputes still there,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the Assam Cabinet had reconstituted the state’s regional committee on Tuesday to continue discussions with Arunachal Pradesh and work towards settling the remaining boundary issues.
Urging both sides to avoid confrontation, Sarma said, “We should not indulge in conflict. We have to remain together. Hence, I urge Arunachal CM Pema Khandu to order an inquiry and find out the culprit. The culprit must be punished.”
During the boundary settlement process, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh had identified 123 disputed villages and areas. Of these, 71 have reportedly been resolved, while differences remain over 52 locations.
Meanwhile, an economic and road blockade announced by the Assam-based Takam Mising Porin Kebang (TMPK) following the firing incident has added to concerns over a possible escalation along the border.
The TMPK said at least 12 people from Assam were injured in alleged firing from the Arunachal Pradesh side at Badati-Mingmang. Strongly condemning the incident, the organisation demanded the immediate identification, arrest and prosecution of those responsible.
The students’ body also said that any Arunachal Pradesh Police personnel found to have been involved should face appropriate legal and departmental action.
The TMPK announced that its road and economic blockade would begin at 5 am on August 12 and continue until its demands are met. It maintained that the agitation was a peaceful and democratic movement seeking justice, security and accountability and was not directed against any particular community or ordinary residents of Arunachal Pradesh.
Sarma appealed for restraint and expressed hope that the blockade would be withdrawn through dialogue.
“Mising and Adi communities are like two brothers, and I think they will discuss and withdraw [the blockade]. Today, the blockade has been given by the Mising community against the Adi community, who are from the same lineage,” he said.
Sarma said Assam Education Minister Ranoj Pegu and Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu had already spoken on the issue and expressed hope that a solution would emerge soon.
The Arunachal Indigenous Tribes Forum (AITF) also appealed to people on both sides of the border to maintain peace and communal harmony. It urged residents not to circulate unverified information or take the law into their own hands.
Opposing the TMPK’s blockade, the AITF described it as “uncalled for” and said ordinary people would suffer most from such restrictions, particularly patients requiring medical attention and those involved in time-bound official or private work.
The forum welcomed the coordination between the Directors General of Police of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh and called for dialogue and restraint to prevent further escalation.
Sarma reiterated that the latest incident should not be allowed to derail the broader process of resolving the Assam-Arunachal boundary dispute, which has made substantial progress in recent years.