Assam-Mizoram Border Dispute: 'Illegal' Road Construction Becomes New Flash Point; What We Know
The lingering border dispute between the states of Assam and Mizoram has escalated further with the Assam alleging that that people from Mizoram were constructing a road inside a reserve forest within its territory in Hailakandi district.
According to Hailakandi Superintendent of Police Gaurav Upadhyay, the road was being constructed near the remote Haticherra village inside the reserve forest over the last few days.
"We first got the information from the Forest Department about the road being built on our side. Subsequently, we contacted the Mizoram counterparts, who then stopped the construction. There was no activity in the last two days.
"However, we got information that three JCBs were seen today at the location. So, Hailakandi DC and I will visit the spot on Wednesday with officials concerned and do a spot verification. Only then we will be able to tell the details," Upadhyay told PTI.
Assam's Barak Valley districts of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi share a 164.6 km long border with Mizoram's three districts of Aizawl, Kolasib and Mamit.
What's the dispute
The dispute between the two northeastern states dates back to British rule and both sides disagree on which border notification should be followed.
Mizoram insists the inter-state boundary should be demarcated on the basis of the 1875 notification, a corollary to the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR) Act, 1873.
While Assam wants another notification from 1933 that demarcates a boundary between Lushai Hills and Manipur to be followed.
Though the dispute has been ongoing for many years, it took a deadly turn earlier this year on July 26, when at least six Assam Police personnel and one civilian were killed and more than 50 people injured in firing by the Mizoram side.
This was followed by sporadic cases of violence and firing in August.
At one point, Assam had even issued a travel advisory to its people against traveling to Mizoram.
Mizoram on the other hand had accused Assam of a financial blockade of the state, due to which it was facing a shortage of essential supplies.
Later the two governments had come together to call a truce and had agreed to de-escalate the situation.
However, this did not last long, and in late October, a Mizoram Police personnel was arrested in Hailakandi for his alleged involvement in a "low-intensity blast" near the Baicherra forward outpost of the Assam Police.
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