Mizoram expresses regret over cops’ death

The Mizoram government on Thursday for the first time, expressed regret over the death of six Assam policemen while its counterpart in Assam indicated that it may cancel an advisory warning against travel to the neighbouring state.

The announcement came soon after two cabinet ministers of the Assam government Atul Bora and Ashok Singhal - reached Mizoram on Thursday to hold talks with officials from Mizoram at Aizawl to de-escalate tensions following last month’s border flare up.

Around 45 people, including 10 from Mizoram, were also injured in clashes that erupted in border areas of the two states last month over an old boundary dispute.

After the meeting in a joint statement Assam and Mizoram have also agreed to take forward an initiative by the Centre to remove tension in border areas and find a lasting solution to the dispute.

“For this purpose, both the states shall not send their respective forest and police forces for patrolling, domination, enforcement or for fresh deployment to any of the areas where confrontation and conflict has taken place before between the police forces of the two states during recent times,” the statement said.

Three districts of Barak Valley in southern Assam Hailakandi, Cachar and Karimganj - share 165km border with three districts of Mizoram Mamit, Kolasib and Aizawl - and there have been disputes at five locations along this stretch. A 500 square km area between Lailapur in Cachar and Vairengte in Kolasib is the most volatile, witnessing two major incidents of violence and sporadic skirmishes since October 2020.

The two states have also agreed to central forces acting as a neutral body to keep peace in the border areas.

Describing his meeting at Aizawl as a positive move to keep the spirit of unity and brotherhood among north-east people, Bora told reporters, “Assam will most likely revoke the travel advisory (warning) not to travel to Mizoram.”