Dibrugarh: The Takam Mising Porin Kebang (TMPK), a Mising student organisation, and several other organisations on Wednesday called a 12-hour Dhemaji bandh to protest the firing that injured 11 villagers from Assam allegedly by people from Arunachal Pradesh.
The bandh, observed from 6 am to 6 pm, affected normal life and road communication between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
“We strongly condemn the brutal firing by miscreants from Hime Basti in Lower Siang, Arunachal Pradesh, on 11 innocent villagers of Badati under the Gogamukh circle of Dhemaji district,” a TMPK leader said.
The organisation demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible and their handover to Assam Police. It also called for swift and impartial action to maintain law and order and resolve the boundary dispute between the two states.
The organisations have warned of an indefinite road blockade if their demands are not met.
The incident reportedly took place on August 10 at Mingmang Badati, where tensions escalated following a dispute over alleged occupation of land claimed by Assam by people from Arunachal Pradesh.
According to reports, allegations and counter-allegations over alleged encroachment had been continuing between residents of the two states. The dispute escalated after residents of Assam went to the area to object to the alleged occupation of land.
The 11 people who sustained bullet injuries are undergoing treatment at Assam Medical College and Hospital in Dibrugarh.
Assam and Arunachal Pradesh share an 804.1-km interstate boundary, with around 1,200 points of dispute between the two states.
Assam minister Ranoj Pegu said on X that Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu had called him and assured him that there would be a “proper and impartial investigation” into the firing incident at Bodoti, Mingmang, in Dhemaji.
“He further assured me that those found guilty will be dealt with in accordance with the law,” Pegu said.
Pegu said they also discussed resuming Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border discussions through the Joint Regional Committees. He said the Assam Cabinet had reconstituted the regional committees at its meeting on Tuesday, with new ministers and senior government officials.
“We agreed on the importance of continuing the dialogue in a spirit of mutual understanding and cooperation to resolve the remaining border issues amicably,” Pegu said.
He appealed to people to maintain peace and harmony in the border areas and refrain from actions that could affect relations between the people of the two neighbouring states.
The Namsai Declaration, signed by the chief ministers of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh on July 15, 2022, marked a step towards resolving the decades-old boundary dispute between the two states.
The agreement initially sought to address disputes involving 123 villages along the interstate boundary. The number was later reduced to 86 villages following negotiations and joint verification.
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