Two individuals have died and three others are missing following an alleged firing incident along the Arunachal Pradesh border in Assam’s Dhemaji district. The incident took place during a plantation drive organized by locals on the occasion of World Environment Day. Three individuals sustained gunshot wounds and were rushed to Dhemaji Civil Hospital, where one person succumbed to their injuries. The superintendent of police, Ranjan Bhuyan, reported that seven villagers who were preparing for the plantation drive in the morning were allegedly targeted in the firing.
Authorities are currently searching for the three missing individuals, while the police are investigating the incident. Local residents have accused miscreants from Arunachal Pradesh of being involved, as the area has been a subject of inter-state boundary disputes. Assam and Arunachal Pradesh share an 804-km-long border, and efforts have been made to resolve the ongoing boundary disputes through discussions and the signing of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) between the chief ministers of both states. However, disagreements over territorial claims have persisted, with certain forested areas in the plains being disputed.
A tripartite committee had been appointed in the past to address the transfer of territories from Assam to Arunachal Pradesh, but Assam challenged the recommendations, leading to the matter being brought before the Supreme Court. The incident at the border highlights the sensitivity of the inter-state boundary issue and the need for a peaceful resolution.
