Centre reviews Assam, Mizoram border situation after clashes

Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Monday called Prime Minister Narendra Modi and union home minister Amit Shah and informed them about the ground situation regarding the recent flare up along the border with Mizoram.

Updated on: Oct 19, 2020, 20:50:54 IST

Hindustan Times, Guwahati | By Utpal Parashar

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Union home secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Monday held a meeting through video conference with chief secretaries of Assam and Mizoram to discuss the recent border tension between the two states and to try and find a solution. Details of the meeting are not available yet.

Superintendent of police Cachar Bhanwar Lal Meena held discussions with his counterpart from Kolasib district in Mizoram Vanlalfaka Ralte and agreed to ensure peace and decided to help resume movement of trucks immediately. (HT Photo)

Several persons on both sides were injured when villagers of Lailapur in Cachar district of Assam clashed with residents of Vairengte in Kolasib district of neighbouring Mizoram on Saturday night.

The clashes reportedly started after some people from the Mizoram side torched some huts made by Lailapur residents on a disputed portion of the border between the two states.

Meanwhile, officials from the two states also held talks on Monday at Lailapur in Cachar district of Assam along the border in a bid to resolve the flare-up amicably through confidence building measures.

Superintendent of police Cachar Bhanwar Lal Meena held discussions with his counterpart from Kolasib district in Mizoram Vanlalfaka Ralte and agreed to ensure peace and decided to help resume movement of trucks immediately. The officials agreed to provide point-to-point escort to the trucks.

Due to the flare-up and subsequent blockade of roads leading to Mizoram by some sections on the Assam side, hundreds of trucks had got stranded along the border in the past two days.

Earlier today, Mizoram’s home department issued a release, assuring truck drivers from Assam and other parts of the country that their vehicles are safe within the state.

Mukesh Aggarwal Special DGP (Border) Assam Police said that the border issue has to be addressed through a conciliatory approach and added the process might take some time as it has to go through certain process and mechanism.

Assam and Mizoram share a 164.6 km long boundary. Mizoram was part of Assam till 1972 when it became a union territory and a state in 1987. Border disputes between the two states keep occurring intermittently.

Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Monday called Prime Minister Narendra Modi and union home minister Amit Shah and informed them about the ground situation regarding the recent flare up along the border with Mizoram.

Sonowal also informed PM Modi and home minister Shah about the steps taken to maintain peace and also about his discussion with Mizoram counterpart Zoramthanga on the issue, said a statement issued by the chief minister’s office. Both the PM and Shah assured the CM of all the help needed to improve the situation.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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