GUWAHATI, Aug. 10: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday said the clash between people from Assam and Arunachal Pradesh in Dhemaji district had been “almost resolved” following a firing incident that left at least 18 people injured and triggered tension along the inter-state border.
Sarma said the Assam government had deputed a minister, the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police to hold discussions with their counterparts in Arunachal Pradesh to defuse the situation and prevent further escalation.
The incident occurred at Mingmang Basti following a dispute over alleged land encroachment. Unidentified persons from the Arunachal Pradesh side allegedly opened fire during a confrontation, injuring 18 people. Four critically injured persons were shifted to Assam Medical College and Hospital in Dibrugarh.
The confrontation followed an alleged shooting involving a Mising youth near Kangku Circle in Arunachal Pradesh’s Lower Siang district, bordering Assam’s Dhemaji district. The youth had reportedly gone missing and was later found with a leg injury.
The identity of the person who allegedly shot him and the circumstances surrounding the incident remained unclear.
The reported shooting was followed by a confrontation between residents of Dhemaji and Lower Siang, raising concerns over a possible escalation of tensions. Reports also indicated heightened tensions between members of the Mising and Galo communities.
The Assam government had initiated coordination with Arunachal Pradesh authorities to address the situation and restore calm along the border.
