Staff Reporter

LIKABALI, 24 Aug: Hundreds of protesters from Bodoti and Mingmang villages of Assam's Dhemaji district allegedly attempted to march forcibly towards Hime village in Kangku circle of Lower Siang district on Monday, continuing the standoff over the boundary dispute at Hime village.

Sources in Likabali informed that protesters from the Assam side marched towards Hime village in Arunachal, demanding that the temporary police camp be shifted from its current location. The protesters clashed with the Assam Police and dismantled barricades erected by the Assam side to prevent them from marching towards Hime village.

It was also reported that, during the protest march, one Tombom Ruti of Pompek village in Kangku circle was manhandled and roughed up while documenting the protest on video. However, Ruti was later rescued by the Lower Siang district police in coordination with the Dhemaji superintendent of police.

"To deescalate the simmering tension, both parties - the Assam and Arunachal Police - have agreed to move back nearly 50 metres from the current camp, and to maintain the status quo. Accordingly, we have moved back around 50 metres from the current temporary camp," said SP Bomken Basar.

The SP denied that the Arunachal Police had retreated and abandoned their position. "We have moved back a certain distance only to maintain peace in the disputed area," Basar said.

He also informed that the Assam Police have "fallen back to certain perimeters" to maintain the status quo. The SP informed that the situation is under control and the protest was peaceful.