Representatives of Assam and Mizoram have said that there will not be any “fresh deployment” by either state in any of the disputed areas along the inter-state border. This follows the first government-level talks between Assam and Mizoram since the July 26 border incident in which six Assam Police personnel were killed. “Both state governments agree to maintain peace in the inter-state border areas and welcome the deployment of neutral force by the Government of India in this regard,” said a joint statement, released after the representatives met in Aizawl on Thursday morning.
In a related development, the Assam government on Thursday revoked its travel advisory to Mizoram after the two states agreed to take forward the Centre’s initiative of letting neutral forces patrol the disputed areas of the inter-State border for maintaining peace. Taking to Twitter, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma shared the development and said, “Pursuant to signing of Joint Statement between Assam and Mizoram today at Aizawl, interalia, to maintain peace and harmony between two states, Assam has withdrawn the Travel Advisory issued on 29 July, 21.” He also posted the copy of state government’s order withdrawing the order that said, “In view of the joint statement issued today i.e. August 5 by the representatives of the Governments of Assam and Mizoram, the Travel Advisory issued dated July 29 is hereby withdrawn.”
Mizoram Chief Minister welcomed his counterpart’s decision and thanked the Assam government for the initiative. “Thank you Government of Assam. Let Peace return!” tweeted Zoramthanga.
While the representatives from Assam included Border Protection and Development minister Atul Bora, Urban Development minister Ashok Singhal, and GD Tripathi, Commissioner and Secretary, Border Protection and Development, the Mizoram delegation was led by the Home Minister Lalchamliana, along with Revenue Minister Lalruatkima and Home Secretary Vanlalngaihsaka. In a meeting, which lasted for approximately one-and-a-half hours, the two sides agreed to “find lasting solutions to the disputes through discussions” and “take necessary measures to promote, preserve and maintain peace and harmony amongst people living in Assam and Mizoram”.
The joint statement, signed by Assam’s Bora and Mizoram’s Lalchamliana said that both governments “welcomed deployment on the neutral force by the Government of India.” “For this purpose, both the states shall not send their respective Forest and Police forces for patrolling, domination, enforcement or for fresh deployment to any of the areas where confrontation and conflict has taken place between the Police forces of the two States during recent times. This would include all such areas along the Assam-Mizoram border in the district of Karimganj, Hailakandi and Cachar, Assam; Mamit and Kolasib districts, Mizoram” it said. The two states share a 165-km-long border that runs along these districts.
However, the release did not mention if state police forces at the contested Lailapur (Cachar, Assam)–Vairengte (Kolasib, Mizoram) — where clashes happened last Monday—would be withdrawn. Currently, the area has forces from both sides deployed, along with the neutral CRPF forces from the Centre acting as the buffer. Assam’s Singhal, who was present at the meeting, said that the meeting was extremely “hopeful.” Mizoram’s Lalruatkima also said it was “a fruitful meeting.” “We also decided that the Deputy Commissioners of both states along the border districts would meet once a month and discuss issues…this is so that such matters do not escalate and are resolved at the DC-level itself,” he said. The statement also added a condolence message from Mizoram on the July 26 deaths. “The representatives of the Government of Mizoram convey condolences for the loss of lives on 26th July, 2021 and convey best wishes for a speedy recovery of those injured,” it said.
WITH AGENCY INPUTS