Sets 48-Hr Deadline For Arrests Of 4 ‘Perpetrators’Guwahati: The Takam Mising Porin Kebang (TMPK) has temporarily lifted its road and economic blockade against Arunachal Pradesh after a series of meetings with two Assam cabinet ministers, Ranoj Pegu and Atul Bora, and representatives of the neighbouring state on Thursday.The Mising students’ union has given the Assam govt 48 hours to arrest four people named in its FIR alleging their involvement in Monday’s cross border firing in Dhemaji district in which several Assam youths were injured, warning that it will resume the blockade if the arrests were not made within the deadline.Earlier in the day, stones were allegedly thrown at protesters from Assam at the Likabali entry point in Dhemaji, triggering a confrontation between groups from the two states in which several were injured from both sides.The road and economic blockade, which began on Wednesday, disrupted movement between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh and heightened tension along the interstate border.While Bora holds the border protection and development portfolio in Assam, Pegu, who spoke to reporters, said Assam Police had registered a case as the firing occurred within its territory at Bodoti village, under Mingmang panchayat.“Assam Police has requested its Arunachal Pradesh counterpart to hand over the accused persons from Himey village. The Assam govt has also taken up the matter at the highest level with the govt of Arunachal Pradesh and is committed to ensuring justice for the affected villagers,” Pegu wrote on X.In its FIR, TMPK has named Nirak Ngomle, Taji Nika, Koter Nake and Kamli Nake as the alleged perpetrators.The organisation has demanded a fair, transparent and time-bound investigation and legal proceedings, asserting that there could be no compromise on the safety and dignity of people living along the border. It has also objected to people carrying firearms or other weapons while attending discussions on Assam soil.“In view of the legal position on arms in Assam, no individual or group should be permitted to participate in future dialogue or discussions on Assam soil while carrying firearms or other weapons,” TMPK said.Meanwhile, in Delhi, MPs from Assam and Arunachal Pradesh issued a joint video appeal, urging people to remain calm and resolve the dispute through dialogue. “MPs of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh appeal for maintenance of peace along the border. We must live together harmoniously as brothers and sisters and settle any land dispute through peaceful negotiation only,” Union parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju, flanked by MPs from Assam, said in the video message.“Through dialogue, we are resolving our differences, and even if every issue does not find a solution, we will continue to move forward on this path. Perhaps our borders are separate, but our hearts are one,” he said.Earlier, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Arunachal Pradesh counterpart, Pema Khandu, had also appealed for peace and restraint.
