Mizoram-Assam border dispute explodes; 6 cops killed in clashes, CMs fight over social media

The war of words did not relent despite Union Home Minister Amit Shah intervening and urging both sides to cordially resolve matters.

Mizoram Assam border dispute explodes Zoramthanga, Himanta fight over social media-VPN

Asianet Newsable English

Guwahati, First Published Jul 26, 2021, 7:19 PM IST

Chief Ministers of Mizoram and Assam have locked horns after violence erupted at the areas at the disputed border between the two states.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma claimed that six policemen had been killed in the clashes at the border.

At the heart of the problem is a 164.6-kilometre border stretch between the two states. Mizoram's districts of Aizawl, Kolasib and Mamit share this stretch of the border with Assam's Cachar, Hailakandi and Karimganj districts.

The violence along the border stems from accusations by residents on both sides of intrusions by the other.

The situation flared up last month after Assam police allegedly seized Aitlang Hnar, about 5 km from the nearest border village of Vairengte in Mizoram. The Assam Police accused Mizoram of encroaching on its territory.

Even though officials from both sides met in New Delhi this month to restore normalcy in the area, the situation remained tense along the borders.

On Monday, firing was reported in the border area between Assam's Cachar district and Mizoram's Colasib district.

The Assam Police alleged that miscreants from Mizoram indulged in arson and attacked state government officials. The claim was denied by the Mizoram side.

The war of words did not relent despite Union Home Minister Amit Shah intervening and urging both sides to cordially resolve matters.

The Assam Police claim came after Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga tagged Home Minister Amit Shah in a Twitter post in which he shared a video of the flareup along the border.

He also urged the Home Minister to intervene in the matter.

Ironically, the flareup comes barely two days after Amit Shah met chief ministers of all northeastern states in Shillong.

In response to Zoramthanga's Twitter post, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma too shared a video claiming that Kolasib (Mizoram) Superintendent of Police was the Assam police to withdraw from their own post until the civilians stop the violence. He, too, sought Amit Shah's intervention.

The war of words, however, spiralled out of control with the Mizoram Chief Minister sharing another footage of a couple that was manhandled and ransacked on their way back to Mizoram via Cachar allegedly by goons.

Amit Shah later spoke to the two chief ministers and asked them to resolve the border issue.

Himanta called up his Mizoram counterpart and reiterated that Assam would maintain the status quo and peace between the borders of the states. He expressed willingness to visit Aizawl and discuss these issues if needed.

To this, Zoramthanga responded, urging Himanta to instruct the Assam Police to withdraw from Vairengte for the safety of civilians.

Last Updated Jul 26, 2021, 7:41 PM IST