Mizoram panel said that Assam’s order of checking all the vehicles while entering was unnecessary harassment of ordinary citizens.
The brewing tension between Assam and Mizoram over the border dispute followed by clashes on Monday led the boundary committee constituted by the Mizoram Government declared the dispute could be resolved on the basis of an 1875 notification.
Also read: Assam-Mizoram border clashes escalate further: Mizoram police now file FIR against Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma & other officials
Members who took the decision
The decision was taken at the committee’s first meeting constituted last week and headed by deputy chief minister Tawnluia. It includes four ministers, members of NGOs, political parties, the chief secretary, and the state police chief.
Statement by the committee on issuance of 1875 notification
The demarcation of Mizoram’s boundary/border on its northern side is to be found only in the Inner Line of 1875. Hence, the committee will continue its stance that the Mizoram-Assam boundary is desirably resolved based on this document alone, stated a resolution issued by the committee on Friday.
Since the border issue is intertwined with ethnic issues, the committee appeals to the people to remain united in this matter and show fortitude in the face of any inconveniences arising out of this situation.
The committee also appealed to the Mizo people not to create hardships for non-Mizos in the state because of the current border situation.
Deliverance of the statement by home department of Mizoram
The home department issued a release on Friday saying that the move will create unnecessary hardships for “innocent citizens” traveling from Mizoram to Assam.
“There is no such restriction on the movement of non-residents of Mizoram travelling within Mizoram through the Mizoram-Assam border. This order (the one issued by Assam) may however be viewed as another way of creating an opportunity to harass all vehicles and passengers from Mizoram by Assam Police.”
Countering Assam’s allegation by the committee
The committee release said that from the past ten years, large quantities of illegal drugs coming from Assam had been seized in Mizoram, and 395 persons from the neighbouring state were arrested in the matter. The issue of illegal drug trafficking can be solved by peaceful communication rather than by harassing innocent civilians.
Assam-Mizoram border dispute based on two notifications issued by British
The Assam-Mizoram border dispute is based on the issuance of two notifications by the British.
The first one, issued in 1875 was framed under Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation of 1873 that demarcated Lushai Hills (the earlier name of Mizoram) from the plains of Cachar (in Assam), both of which were part of Greater Assam.
Implications of the notification
The notification also introduced the ILP that regulates the entry of outsiders to the area, now Mizoram, till present.
Since the decision was taken in consultation with Mizo chiefs at that time, Mizoram wants the border delimitation done on the basis of the 1875 notification.
In 1933, another notification was issued through which delimitation of the earlier boundary between Lushai Hills, the former princely state of Manipur, and Cachar in Assam was modified.
Appellation of Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi
An undeclared economic blockade was declared at Lailapur, where several trucks were stranded carrying essential commodities in Assam along the NH306 to Mizoram.
CM of Mizoram tweeted and requested PM that essential commodities and Covid-19 related medical equipment for the Oxygen Plant shouldn’t be blocked.
