Tension between Assamese and Arunachal groups over land encroachment

A land dispute on the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border has led to tensions between states. Police said a group of people in Assam's Dhemaji district alleged that residents of Arunachal Pradesh encroached forest land.

The two states share an 804.1 km-long border.

The Assamese group is accusing that some people from Arunachal Pradesh are occupying reserved forest land at Panbari to set up an agricultural farm. They removed the fence set up around the farm.

In retaliation, people from Arunachal Pradesh attacked an Assamese family and took away their motorcycle, said a senior police official. Cops from the Bordoloni outpost arrived at the spot to keep discussing the matter with officials of both states.

He added that the situation is now under control and the area is being monitored.

Three days ago, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Arunachal counterpart Pema Khandu signed the 'Namsai Declaration' and pledged to resolve the border disputes between the two states.

There were 123 disputed villages between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. This number was brought down to 86 at the meeting. Both leaders said they will try to resolve the issues by September 15.

Arunachal Pradesh was made a union territory in 1972. Many of the forest tracts in the region traditionally belonged to tribal chiefs and their communities. These were transferred to Assam which was a state at the time. When Arunachal Pradesh achieved statehood in 1987, a tripartite committee was appointed to recommend these territories be returned to Arunachal. Assam has contested this and the matter is in the Supreme Court.