Eight people were injured, with seven in critical condition, after unidentified miscreants from Arunachal Pradesh opened fire at the Mingmang Badti inter-state border in Dhemaji district, located on the Assam-Arunachal border.

Eight Assamese villagers were injured in the incident, seven of whom are in critical condition. The incident is being seen as the latest flashpoint between the two neighbouring states over encroachment on the border area.

According to a senior official, cited by news agency PTI, the incident took place on Monday morning at the Mingmang settlement on the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border. The official added that the firing incident started with a confrontation over alleged land occupation by people from Arunachal Pradesh in Assam, which later turned into firing.

People of Assam were targeted

The officer added that the unidentified miscreants from across the border opened indiscriminate fire, targeting people from Assam. The injured were identified as Durgeshwar Patir, Rohit Dole, Nagaraj Dole, Bigeshwar Patir, Pame Pegu, Sanjay Tayung, Utpal Dole, and Jan Dole.

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The injured were rushed to Gogamukh Rural Hospital. In critical condition, seven of them were referred to Dhemaji Civil Hospital.

CM Himanta takes cognisance

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma reacted to the incident, saying that the chief secretaries of both states are in talks and the director generals of police (DGPs) are also coordinating to defuse the tension.

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He said, "Assam Police assistance has arrived at the scene. We need to calm the situation. Also, I have instructed the Assam Police that under no circumstances should Assam lose even an inch of its land."

Assam and Arunachal Pradesh have a decades-long border dispute, and the two states are engaged in negotiations to resolve it through dialogue and demarcation. Still, many areas along the border remain sensitive. Following the incident, security has been increased along the border.

(With PTI Inputs)