Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu told the Assembly on March 11 that the state government will formally raise alleged violations of the status quo along the Changlang–Assam inter‑state boundary with the Assam government after the neighbouring state’s Assembly elections conclude. He said the matter will be pursued once the election process is over, while urging closer administrative coordination between districts on both sides to prevent escalation.
Responding to a question from BJP MLA Laisam Simai during Question Hour, Khandu said he would instruct the Changlang Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police to coordinate with officials in Assam’s Dibrugarh district. Simai had alleged that Assam officials entered the disputed zone without authorisation on multiple occasions-he claimed 17 such visits-and that some residents were assaulted during these incidents.
The boundary dispute also surfaced during a supplementary question by BJP MLA Wanglin Lowangdong about the unresolved Tirap border issue despite the signing of the Namsai Declaration on July 15, 2022. Khandu cited a Survey of India report that, he said, shows the Tirap–Tinsukia dispute has been settled. He added, however, that any remaining discrepancies must be resolved through dialogue. “Even if there are any discrepancies, we can look for out‑of‑the‑box solutions through discussion with Assam, but officially we cannot do anything,” Khandu told the House.
Inter‑State Border Affairs Minister Mama Natung informed the Assembly that five villages in Changlang were excluded from the Namsai Declaration because the regional committee for the district was kept in abeyance after initial objections from Assam. Natung said the local commission’s 2014 report did not list disputed villages from Changlang, leaving the Changlang–Tinsukia sector without a final settlement.
Natung further noted that the Tarun Chatterjee Committee had earlier recommended those five villages be placed under Assam, a view echoed in a report by the then deputy commissioner of Changlang. Villagers have since moved the courts and the case remains sub judice, which has so far prevented an amicable resolution between the two state governments.
The Namsai Declaration originally aimed to resolve disputes over 123 villages along the inter‑state boundary, a figure later reduced to 86 after joint verification. Arunachal has long maintained that forested plains traditionally belonging to hill tribal communities were transferred to Assam without consultation; transfers and counter‑recommendations since the 1970s have left several issues pending, including matters that reached the Supreme Court.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/arunachal-pradesh/story/arunachal-to-raise-changlang-boundary-issue-with-assam-after-polls-1358192-2026-03-11?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2026-03-11 18:29:00
