2 dead, 3 missing after firing along Assam-Arunachal border

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• Jun 5, 2023 | Dhupali Das

Two people were killed and three others were missing after alleged firing along the Arunachal Pradesh border...

Digital Desk: Two people were killed and three others were missing after alleged firing along the Arunachal Pradesh border in Assam's Dhemaji district on Monday, police said. The incident occurred after locals organized a plantation drive at the interstate border area on the occasion of World Environment Day, Superintendent of Police (SP) Ranjan Bhuyan said.

Seven villagers had gone in advance to make the necessary arrangements in the morning. They reportedly came under firing, and one person was killed on the spot, Bhuyan said. Three others sustained bullet injuries and were rushed to the Dhemaji Civil Hospital by locals, where one person died, he added.

Three others have gone missing, and police are searching for them, Bhuyan said. "After receiving the information, our team rushed to the location. We are investigating the incident," he said. Locals claimed that miscreants from Arunachal Pradesh were involved as there was an inter-state boundary conflict in the area.

Assam and Arunachal Pradesh share an 804-kilometer border, and both states have engaged in discussions to address boundary disputes. On April 20, in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and Arunachal CM Pema Khandu signed an MoU to resolve the border dispute.

The two chief ministers signed the Namsai Declaration in July last year, kicking off attempts to resolve the boundary disputes. Arunachal Pradesh, which was made a Union Territory in 1972, says that large forested tracts in the plains that had traditionally belonged to hill tribal chiefs and communities were unilaterally transferred to Assam.

After Arunachal Pradesh achieved statehood in 1987, a tripartite committee was formed to recommend that certain territories be transferred from Assam to Arunachal Pradesh. Assam opposed this, and the case is now before the Supreme Court.