GUWAHATI : Two days after several people from Assam were injured in firing by miscreants from Arunachal Pradesh along the inter-state border, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said his counterpart Pema Khandu “must” order an inquiry into the incident and ensure that those responsible are punished.
Assam Education Minister Ranoj Pegu, who was deputed by Sarma to monitor the situation along the border, said Khandu had assured him of strict action against those responsible for the firing.
Meanwhile, the Takam Mising Porin Kebang (TMPK), the apex student organisation of Assam’s Mising community, launched an indefinite economic blockade against Arunachal Pradesh in protest against the alleged firing.
As part of the agitation, protesters blocked key entry points along the inter-state border, including roads at Dwarmukh-Banderdewa, Ruksin in Dhemaji, Banderdewa in Lakhimpur, Solengi in Gohpur and Pabhoi in Biswanath.
At least 12 people from Assam were injured on Monday after alleged firing by miscreants from Arunachal Pradesh along the inter-state border in Dhemaji district over land encroachment issues.
On August 10, the firing incident took place at Mingmang Basti along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border in Gogamukh revenue circle of Gerukamukh Police Station.
“We should not fight, we should not indulge in conflict. Ultimately we have to remain together. I request the Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister to order an inquiry, find the culprits, and punish them,” Sarma said at a press conference here.
He said the incident was painful, primarily because both states have settled the boundary disputes in most of the sectors.
“Only in five sectors, some disputes remain. Yesterday in our Cabinet meeting, we reconstituted our regional committee so that we can resolve the issue with Arunachal,” Sarma said.
“I don’t think there will be a permanent conflict because we have so many similarities between the people of the two states. I think this is a temporary setback and we will overcome it,” Sarma said.
Referring to the continuing border disputes, the CM said, “I hope that we will be able to settle our border dispute with Arunachal soon. The place where the clash took place is a disputed area. There has been no clash in the settled areas and permanent border pillars have been put up.” In a social media post, Pegu said, “Hon’ble Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Shri @PemaKhanduBJP ji, called me this morning and assured me that there will be a proper and impartial investigation into the police firing incident at Bodoti, Mingmang, Dhemaji.” “He (Khandu) further assured that those found guilty will be dealt with in accordance with the law,” Pegu added.
Immediately after the incident, Sarma had deputed Pegu, a local Mising leader, to monitor the situation and hammer out the impasse.
The Assam minister further said, “We also discussed the resumption of Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border discussions (on inter-state boundary disputes) through the joint regional committees.” “I informed him (Khandu) that the Assam cabinet, in its meeting yesterday, has reconstituted the regional committees with new ministers and senior officers of the Assam government,” he added.
Pegu said that in the telephonic discussion, both leaders agreed on the importance of continuing dialogue in a spirit of mutual understanding and cooperation to resolve the remaining border issues amicably.
“I appeal to everyone to maintain peace, harmony and mutual respect in the border areas and to refrain from any action that may disturb the cordial relations between the people of the two neighbouring states,” he added.
Along with TMPK, other local social groups like Mising Mimag Kebang (MMK) and Takam Mising Mahila Kebang (TMMK) are supporting the blockade and stopped vehicles with Arunachal Pradesh registration numbers at the entry points.
TMPK secretary Saan Panging said, “Such incidents along the inter-state border are not new, but our government has not taken it seriously. This time, our agitation will continue till all the culprits are arrested and handed over to Assam Police.” The organisations are demanding an early resolution of the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border dispute, action against the “miscreants” who had fired two days ago and an end to alleged encroachment on Assam land.
The firing incident took place at Mingmang Basti along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border in Gogamukh revenue circle of Gerukamukh Police Station.
Police said the clash erupted following a dispute over alleged encroachment by people from Arunachal Pradesh on land in Assam.
Assam and Arunachal Pradesh share an 804.1-km border passing through Udalguri, Sonitpur, Biswanath, Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Tinsukia, Dibrugarh and Charaideo districts of Assam and 12 districts of the neighbouring state.
There are around 1,200 points of dispute along the inter-state border between the two states.
The Assam government on July 29 told the state Assembly that Arunachal Pradesh had allegedly encroached upon 16,144.01 hectares of land. Of this, Arunachal Pradesh is claiming 858.91 sq km, it said.
Both states have constituted 12 regional committees to resolve the border disputes and are taking steps based on the recommendations of these panels, which have jointly toured the disputed areas and held consultations with stakeholders.
A Namsai Declaration was signed by the chief ministers of the two states on July 15, 2022, setting in motion measures to resolve differences over 123 villages in Assam claimed by Arunachal Pradesh.
A memorandum of understanding in this regard was later signed by the two chief ministers in the presence of the Union Home Minister in New Delhi on April 20, 2023.
Of the 123 villages claimed by Arunachal Pradesh, differences over 71 have been resolved, while the process is under way to address the issues concerning the remaining 52 villages. (Source: PTI)
