Protesters in Assam block a road leading to Arunachal Pradesh’s Banderdewa on August 13, 2026.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Tension along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border eased on Thursday night (August 13, 2026) after Takam Mising Porin Kebang (TMPK), the apex student body of Assam’s Mising community, suspended the “economic blockade” of Arunachal Pradesh. However, it gave a 48-hour ultimatum to arrest four Arunachal Pradesh-based persons accused in the August 10 firing incident that took place over a land dispute.
On Wednesday (August 12, 2026), TMPK and other groups had launched the blockade in protest against the firing in which 11 persons from Assam were injured in the Mingmang Bodoti area of northeastern Assam’s Dhemaji district.
After talks with the Assam government and civil society groups of Arunachal Pradesh, the TMPK said: “Following these discussions, assurances were given regarding immediate action on the core demands raised by TMPK. In view of these assurances and in consideration of the difficulties being faced by the common people, TMPK has decided to temporarily suspend the blockade.”
Earlier in the day, officials in Dhemaji said police restored order by firing blank shots after a scuffle between people from both States followed an incident of stone-pelting. The violence was reported from an area adjoining Likabali in Arunachal Pradesh.
Officials of both the States had expected tension along the border to ease after Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Arunachal Pradesh counterpart Pema Khandu appealed for calm and promised action against those responsible for the firing.
Following the renewed unrest, the Assam government rushed Ministers Atul Bora and Ranoj Pegu to Dhemaji. They held a meeting with the TMPK leaders and several other organisations.
TMPK president Tilak Doley said the meeting was positive. “They accepted our demands and said these would be fulfilled through dialogue. One of our demands is that the four persons from Arunachal Pradesh named in the FIR must be arrested within 48 hours,” he said.
Mr. Pegu told the TMPK leaders that Assam police have requested their Arunachal Pradesh counterparts to hand over the four persons accused of firing. “The Assam government has taken up the matter at the highest level with the Arunachal Pradesh government and is committed to ensuring justice for the affected villagers,” he said.
The Minister said that Assam’s border regional committees would soon resume discussions with their counterparts in Arunachal Pradesh towards an amicable and lasting solution to the border dispute.
The two Ministers held another meeting with a delegation of the All Assam Students’ Union to discuss the situation. “I sought their cooperation in maintaining peace, harmony, and mutual respect along the inter-State border and in ensuring that the cordial relations between the people of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh remain undisturbed,” Mr. Bora said.
On Wednesday (August 12, 2026), Mr. Sarma had said the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border dispute had been resolved in 71 of the 123 villages in 12 sectors. “The problem now needs to be resolved in five areas covering 52 villages,” he had said.
Published – August 13, 2026 12:47 pm IST
