Clashes on the border between the northeastern states of Assam and Mizoram are nothing new, however, what was witnessed on Monday was the bloodiest. The two states have been locked in a fight over their borders for decades, often leading to major or minor clashes.
Border clashes between the northeastern states of Assam and Mizoram are nothing new, however, what was witnessed on Monday was the bloodiest. The two states have been locked in a fight over their borders for decades, often leading to major or minor clashes.
Meanwhile, the Center has called chief secretaries and DGPs of Assam and Mizoram to New Delhi for a meeting on Wednesday while the disturbed inter-state border was calm, a day after armed clashes left five people dead and over 60 injured. went. Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla will chair the meeting to discuss the sudden escalation of violence along the Assam-Mizoram border. The meeting of Chief Secretaries and Director Generals of Police is expected to work out a formula for peace so that such violence does not recur.
Tensions between the two states along the border with Mizoram in Assam’s Cachar and Hailakandi districts have been escalating since October 2020 and there have been frequent incidents of burning of houses and land grabbing by both sides. The Barak Valley districts of Assam, Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi share a 164-km-long border with the three districts of Mizoram, Aizawl, Kolasib and Mamit.
On October 22, 2020, the high level talks were held under the aegis of the Union Home Ministry. The meeting was concluded with a decision to maintain status quo and resolve the dispute through discussion.
However, the matter escalated in February this year and since then hundreds of people have fled their homes near the Galachera border post after two huts were torched.
After a lull, a grenade was hurled at an Assam government team that had visited the border from Mizoram on 10 July by unknown assailants. Meanwhile, two back-to-back explosions were heard from across the border in the early hours of July 11.
What is the controversy about?
There are clear border issues between Mizoram and Assam. Mizoram was a district of Assam before becoming a union territory in the year 1971 after years of insurgency and the boundaries of the districts did not really matter. However, it became a state in 1987 and when border issues surfaced in the form of a belief that the border should be separated.
Now, the fault lines between the two northeastern states arise because Mizoram wants it to be along the Inner Line notified in 1875, which the Mizo tribals consider to be part of their historical homeland. But, Assam insists that it should be defined according to the demarcation of the district made much later.
Cachar: A damaged security force vehicle at the site of Monday’s clash at Lailapur in Cachar district, Monday, July 27, 2021, at Lailapur on the Assam-Mizoram border.
Originating from the same backdrop, things took a turn for the worse on Monday when violent clashes broke out along the inter-state border, in which at least five policemen were killed and over 60 people were injured. The violence came two days after Union Home Minister Amit Shah held talks with chief ministers of eight northeastern states and underlined the need to resolve border disputes. The clashes are said to have taken place in the past few weeks following allegations of encroachment on the area by both sides.
Read more: What is the Assam-Mizoram border dispute: Explained
According to the Assam government, a team of officials including an IG, DIG, DC Cachar, SP Cachar and DFO Cachar, to resolve the issues related to the destruction of the Inner Line, alleged construction of a road towards Crengti Basti in Assam by Mizoram Went. Reserved forest in Lailapur area.
The Mizoram side has also set up a new armed camp on a hill next to the camp of the neutral force, CRPF, in the same area, it said. Further, it claimed that the Mizoram mob started pelting stones and destroyed three vehicles, including the DC’s car.
It said that the Mizoram Police simultaneously fired tear gas shells on the delegation and the IG was injured in this barrage. In the afternoon, SP Kolasib along with two additional SP level officers held discussions with the Assam delegation.
“Mizoram officials went to talk to the crowd, but SP Kolasib returned again around 4:30 pm and said that he had no control over the crowd.
“Frighteningly, while SP, Kolasib was interacting with the Assam officials, the Mizoram Police opened fire on the Assam officials and civilians, who had by then gathered there, two prominent high-ranking officers with automatic weapons including LMGs. characteristics,” the statement said.
Talking about the use of Light Machine Guns (LMGs), the Assam Chief Minister said, “It is sad, unfortunate and tells a lot about the intent and gravity of the situation.”
Officials said Sarma will visit the violence-hit Assam-Mizoram border on Tuesday morning to assess the situation.
However, Mizoram Home Minister Lalchmalliana claimed in a statement that the Mizoram Police “charged” the Assam Police after 200 personnel of Mizoram Police forcibly crossed the duty post of CRPF personnel and indulged in arson, attack on unarmed persons and firing. Suddenly firing” replied. . (with PTI inputs)
Read more: Assam-Mizoram border conflict: Not even an inch of land is occupied by neighbors: CM
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