An incident in Likabali has done what years of boundary disputes couldn’t — driven a painful wedge between communities that have shared festivals, friendships, and futures across the border for generations.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu raised his voice for peace on Wednesday, appealing to people on both sides of the Assam-Arunachal border to hold their nerve after an “unfortunate incident” rattled the Likabali area in Lower Siang district. The incident, which triggered an economic blockade and community-level tensions, has shaken what was otherwise a relationship built on deep cultural familiarity between the Adi-Galo and Mising communities. Khandu made clear he wasn’t going to let it fester.
“We’ve Lived Together for Ages” — Khandu Reaches Across the Border
Khandu confirmed he had been in touch with senior leaders of the Mising community and had spoken directly with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma about the situation. That kind of direct line between the two chief ministers matters. It signals that this isn’t being left to spiral. Talks are also underway between the Galo Welfare Society and Mising community representatives, with youth organisations from both states separately engaging on the ground. A meeting was also scheduled in Likabali, bringing together civil society organisations, student bodies, and youth representatives from both Arunachal Pradesh and Assam to work toward restoring calm.
“Assam and Arunachal have been living together peacefully for ages,” Khandu said. “Our objective should be that we peacefully coexist and move forward together.” It’s a simple line, but in moments like this, the simple things need to be said out loud.
An Old Wound, A Slow Process
On the broader Assam-Arunachal Pradesh boundary dispute, Khandu noted that the process of resolution through regional committees — constituted by both states — had slowed during the Assam Assembly elections but had since resumed after the committees were reconstituted. Progress on border disputes rarely makes headlines when things are going well. It only grabs attention when they aren’t. “Whatever border issues remain, we will discuss them in the regional committees and resolve them as well,” he said.
Blockade, Broken Bonds, and a Call for Maturity
Perhaps the most immediate concern right now is the economic blockade that came in the wake of the Likabali incident. Khandu expressed hope that the situation would be handled maturely and that the blockade would be withdrawn soon. An economic blockade hits ordinary people the hardest — traders, farmers, daily wage workers who have nothing to do with political or territorial disputes. Khandu said the recent incident had created an unwanted distance between communities that share close social and cultural ties, noting that the Adi-Galo and Mising communities have established forums through which they regularly interact during festivals and other social activities.
The Border Can Wait. The Brotherhood Cannot.
Khandu urged people from both states to avoid actions that could further strain relations, saying the government would take whatever steps were necessary to maintain peace. When communities that dance at each other’s festivals and grieve at each other’s funerals suddenly find themselves on opposite sides of a flashpoint, something important is being lost. Boundary lines are negotiated in committee rooms. Brotherhood, once broken, takes far longer to rebuild. Pema Khandu seems to understand that — and right now, that understanding is exactly what this moment needs.
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