Anger erupted on Monday along the Assam-Arunachal boundary state over at least eight injured residents of Assam, allegedly in a firefighting incident in Dhemaji district.
The authorities allege that the incident happened in Mingmang Gowrahari Basti, adjacent to the inter-state border, where people from both sides smuggled banned weapons and opened fire indiscriminately on Assamese people.
Injured were immediately taken to Gogamukh Rural Hospital for treatment. Seven of them were then taken to Dhemaji Civil Hospital where they were reported as being critical.
The officials said the firing was connected with an “alleged encroachment on Assam land by people from Arunachal Pradesh”, which is a part of an ongoing dispute. Details of the incident are being investigated.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has confirmed that 8 people sustained injury following the incident, but added that it was mostly brought under control.
On Monday, a clash occurred between Assamese and Arunachal Pradesh people in Dhemaji resulting in eight casualties. The situation has been almost resolved,” Sarma told the media.
A minister, the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police have been sent to discuss with officials in Arunachal Pradesh and ease the tensions, the Chief Minister said.
The episode shows the ongoing border disputes between the various states of the region; which remains a major issue. Authorities from both states are likely to work hand in hand with each other in order to avoid further escalations and return the area to normalcy.
The number of people injured and specifics of the burning are expected when authorities dig deeper into the incident.