The central government has summoned top officials of Assam and Mizoram to New Delhi on Wednesday. This meeting was called in the wake of violence along the Assam-Mizoram border that resulted in the deaths of six policemen and a civilian. Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla chair the meeting in the national capital at 10.30 pm on Wednesday. Assam chief secretary Jishnu Baru and his counterpart in Mizoram – Pu Lalnunmawia Chuaungo – will attend the meeting, along with Assam Director General of Police (DGP) Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta and Mizoram DGP SBK Singh.
The purpose of this meeting is to arrive at a formula to maintain the status quo in disputed areas along the Assam-Mizo border. Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi districts in Assam’s Barak valley share a 164 km long border with Mizoram’s Aizawl, Kolasib and Mamit districts. The violent clashes on the Assam-Mizoram border in Lailapur on Monday are a result of the continuing confrontation. They come days after a meeting of Union Home Minister Amit Shah with chief ministers of the Northeastern states in Shillong, where it was reiterated that inter-state border issues would be resolved amicably. While Mizoram has accused the Assam Police of entering its territory, videos of armed young Mizo men in battle fatigues and helmets were reported from the Mizoram side, which reported no injuries. A total of six companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have been deployed at the disputed site on the Assam-Mizoram border and currently, the situation is under control and peaceful.
