Dibrugarh: The Takam Mising Porin Kebang (TMPK), along with several other organisations, called a 12-hour Dhemaji bandh on Wednesday to protest the alleged firing on 11 villagers from Assam by miscreants from Arunachal Pradesh.
The bandh, observed from 6 am to 6 pm, affected normal life and road connectivity between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
“We strongly condemned the brutal firing by miscreants from Hime Basti, Lower Siang of Arunachal Pradesh to 11 innocent villagers of Badati under Gogamukh circle of Dhemaji district of Assam,” said a TMPK leader.
He said, “We want immediate arrest of the culprits and hand them over to Assam police. We also demand for swift and impartial action to uphold law and order and to settle boundary settlement between the two states,”.
The organisations have also announced an indefinite road blockade if their demands are not met. TMPK supporters have reportedly blocked the Hollongi, Banderdewa and Gumto entry gates on the Assam side as part of an economic blockade against Arunachal Pradesh.
The blockade has affected the movement of vehicles and people. Commuters have been advised to avoid the Hollongi, Banderdewa and Gumto routes until the situation returns to normal.
The firing reportedly took place on August 10 at Mingmang Badati after tension escalated over a dispute involving land claimed by Assam and alleged occupation by people from Arunachal Pradesh.
According to reports, residents from the two sides had been involved in allegations and counter-allegations over the alleged encroachment.
The dispute reportedly escalated after Assam residents went to the area to object to the alleged occupation of their land.
The 11 injured villagers are undergoing treatment at Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH) in Dibrugarh.
Assam and Arunachal Pradesh share an 804.1-km border, with around 1,200 points of dispute between the two states.
Sharing a post on X, Assam minister Ranoj 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 further assured that those found guilty will be dealt with in accordance with the law,”.
“We also discussed the resumption of Assam–Arunachal Pradesh border discussions through the Joint Regional Committees. I informed him that the Assam Cabinet, in its meeting yesterday, has reconstituted the Regional Committees with new Ministers and senior officers of the Government of Assam,” Pegu said.
“We agreed on the importance of continuing the 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 said.
The Namsai Declaration, signed by the chief ministers of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh on July 15, 2022, was aimed at resolving the long-standing boundary dispute between the two states.
The agreement initially covered disputes involving 123 villages along the inter-state boundary, which were later reduced to 86 villages following negotiations and joint verification.