A brief overview Assam-Mizoram border dispute

Damaged police vehicles after clashes near the Assam-Mizoram border. (Image via: PTI)

The boundary conflict between Assam and Mizoram has been going on for a long time but the dispute has taken a serious shape in recent times. With the two states accusing each other of encroachment, the violence was erupted triggering a lot of fresh concerns around the border flashpoint. However, the clash escalated on July 26. Six cops of the Assam police were reported to have been killed which led to violence. About 20 houses and shops were set on fire and over 50 people were injured in the clash that erupted around the Assam-Mizoram border. 

Let’s go back to history - After the execution of the North-Eastern Reorganisation Act in 1972.

Assam-Mizoram Border Map. (Image via: DhristiIAS)

After the act Mizoram was carved out from Assam as a Union Territory and was granted statehood on February 20, 1987. 

Three districts of Mizoram-Aizawl, Kolasib and Mamit share a 164-km long boundary with three districts of Assam-Hailakandi, Karimganj and Cachar. And, both the states have accused each other of trespassing at many points. The boundary clash revolves around the two notification which was issued in the British era (1875-1933) regarding the division of boundary between the two states which mark the separation between the Lushai hills and Manipur, it suggests that the Manipur border starts from the tripoint of Lushai Hills, Assam’s Cachar district and Manipur. However, the Mizos have refused to accept the notice issued in 1994. 

Sources state that there were several meetings held by the centre to resolve the tension between the two states in the last years, but the violence escalated between the residents of both states in October-November of 2020. This resulted in blocking the highway which linked the two states for several days. 

To tackle the ongoing border conflict between both the states our home minister Amit Shah had to intervene and held a meeting where the Chief Minister of both the states were present. Both the Chief Ministers – Assam CM, Himanta Biswa Sarma and Mizoram CM, Zoramthanga have assured to maintain peace and find an amicable solution to the boundary dispute. 

Author: 

Swagata Chakraborty