Assam-Arunachal Pradesh Border Incident: Four Injured Recovering
Overview of the Firing Incident
Locals carry one of the injured after the firing incident at Ming Mang. (AT Photo)
Guwahati, Aug 11: In a recent shooting incident along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border in Dhemaji district, four out of eleven injured individuals are currently recuperating at Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH) in Dibrugarh, and all are reported to be out of danger.
Assam's Education Minister Ranoj Pegu, assigned by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to liaise with officials from Arunachal Pradesh, confirmed on Tuesday that the four injured individuals are receiving treatment at AMCH and their conditions are stable.
Pegu noted that Dr. Dhrubajyoti Bhuyan, the superintendent of AMCH, informed him about the progress of Utpal Doley, who had sustained an eye injury. Although Doley's vision has improved, a metallic foreign object was found in his eye socket, indicating that he may need further specialized care.
The other three injured individuals are being treated for various injuries in the hospital's surgical department, as stated by Pegu.
“I have urged the hospital staff to provide all necessary medical assistance to the injured and will continue to monitor their recovery,” Pegu added.
The shooting incident occurred in Badati village, located approximately 21 km from Gogamukh Chariali, following a dispute between local residents and a group from Arunachal Pradesh regarding alleged land encroachment and ownership issues, according to police reports.
The situation escalated when the group reportedly opened fire on the Assam villagers, resulting in eight injuries, with the total number of injured later reported to be eleven.
Shortly after the incident, Sarma referred to it as a “localized conflict” and mentioned that discussions between the two states had nearly resolved the issue amicably.
This incident comes just a week after Sarma and Arunachal Pradesh's Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein met on August 1 to enhance cooperation between the neighboring states.
The boundary dispute between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh has been ongoing for decades, with the two states sharing an 804-km border that has seen periodic disputes over land encroachments, forest areas, and differing interpretations of the inter-state boundary.
Since the early 1990s, the border has experienced several flashpoints, including significant clashes at Bhalukpong in 2005 and in Behali Reserve Forest in 2014, which resulted in ten fatalities.