Eleven people from Assam were injured, including three who were reported to be in critical condition, after unidentified armed men allegedly opened fire in the Mingmang Badati area of Dhemaji district along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border on August 11.
The incident occurred under the Gogamukh Revenue Circle amid allegations of land encroachment along the inter-state boundary. Police said the firing took place after a confrontation between local residents and a group of armed men reportedly wearing uniforms.
An injured villager alleged that around 18 people were working in the area when the armed group approached them and claimed the land belonged to them. According to the villager, the men opened fire before the locals could respond. Eight or nine people reportedly managed to flee without injuries.
The injured were identified as Durgeshwar Patir, Rohit Doley, Nagaraj Doley, Bigneshwar Patir, Pame Pegu, Sanjay Tayung, Utpal Doley and Jan Doley. Police said the identities of the remaining three injured persons were yet to be established.
All 11 injured people were initially taken to Gogamukh Rural Hospital. Seven of them, including the three critically injured, were later shifted to Dhemaji Civil Hospital before being referred to Assam Medical College and Hospital in Dibrugarh for specialised treatment.
Residents of Mingmang Badati alleged that repeated attempts had been made by people from the Arunachal Pradesh side to encroach upon land in Assam. One injured resident further alleged that even senior police personnel from across the border had visited the area and that those in uniform were involved in the firing.
Assam Police said the allegations had not yet been verified and that an investigation was underway. An investigating officer said the police would also coordinate with their counterparts in Arunachal Pradesh as part of the inquiry.
A large contingent of police personnel was deployed in the area to prevent any further escalation following the incident.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said he had been informed about the firing and directed the Director General of Police, Chief Secretary and other senior officials to investigate the matter and coordinate with authorities in Arunachal Pradesh.
Sarma, however, described the incident as a localised land dispute rather than a conflict between the two states, maintaining that the overall situation remained peaceful.
Assam and Arunachal Pradesh share a border stretching more than 800 km, with several areas remaining disputed and witnessing occasional localised confrontations over allegations of land encroachment.
