Itanagar, Oct. 29: Arunachal Pradesh police today detained D. Tadar, a 35-year-old man, who had yesterday opened fire from his hunting rifle at a mob in Papum Pare district near the state’s border with Assam.

Police said quoting Tadar that trouble broke out in Pichola under Taraso circle in the district when two mobs confronted each other with guns and swords after an altercation over felling.

Tadar had gone on a hunting trip with six others, including three minor boys.

The police said according to Tadar, nearly 100 villagers of Gorubandha of Assam were felling trees in Pichola inside Arunachal Pradesh claiming it as their territory. A group of villagers of Arunachal Pradesh objected saying the 30-acre tract had been allotted to the Border Roads Task Force for road construction by the Arunachal government and the villagers of Assam did not have any territorial claim over that plot.

As the Assam villagers flashed firearms and swords, threatening to “retaliate” and obstructed the group of seven hunters from going into the jungles. Things took an ugly turn when the Arunachal villagers fished out their firearms and threatened to shoot at the approaching mob.

The standoff continued for about 15 minutes and as the mob closed in, Tadar opened fire.

The officer-in-charge of Banderdewa police station, N. Riba, today said the accused along with his three accomplices has been detained. Riba said Tadar had confessed to have opened fire to disperse the armed mob that threatened to attack them.

Riba said according to Assam police, Amal Saikia, a villager who was hit by a bullet, is being treated at Lakhimpur hospital. Sub-divisional police officer Apang Tamut rushed to Lakhimpur to investigate the matter.

The incident occurred barely five days after 20 foresters from Assam’s Sonitpur district forced their way into Durang village of Papum Pare district and forcefully took away Tadar Tache, a forest guard, on the pretext of violating the Assam Forest Act, 1890.

A number of students’ unions, including the All Nyishi Students Union, All Papum Pare District Students Union and All Papum Poma Students Union have demanded immediate punishment of the Assam foresters.

The frequent border skirmishes between the two neighbouring states over the past few years have threatened to create a “divide” between the people of Assam and Arunachal.