The boundary dispute between Assam and Mizoram
Recently, violent clashes broke out between the police and local citizens of both the states on the borders of Assam and Mizoram, in which some Assam Police personnel were killed and many persons on both sides were injured.
In such a situation, the governments of both the states are accusing each other of inciting violence and are demanding the intervention of the central government.
Reason for border dispute:
Mizoram’s three districts—Aizawl, Kolasib and Mamit—share a border of about 164.6 km with the Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi districts of Assam. The border dispute in both the states dates back to the time of British Raj 100 years ago. Mizoram was then known as the Lushai hills of Assam.
Colonial Legacy: Mizoram argues that the boundary should be determined on the basis of the 1875 notification (under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation of 1873), while Assam agrees with the constitutional map drawn up under the 1933 demarcation.
Faulty demarcation: Assam was divided into Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland. But the orders were never accepted by all the parties through proper demarcation or unquestionably, leading to disputes between the states.
According to experts, these states were hastily separated from Assam without taking into account the ground realities, since then there is no mechanism available with these states to resolve such disputes.
Possible solutions:
- The Boundary Commission should be set up under the direction of the Supreme Court for proper demarcation of boundaries.
- Efforts should be made to find a political solution within the Northeast Democratic Alliance (NEDA).
- The central government should play the role of an intermediary with the use of inter-state councils for confidence building measures.
- The overall development of the region should be ensured through people-to-people interaction.
Source – Indian Express
