The residents of Assam and Mizoram have clashed twice over territory recently. The recent clash was in the backdrop of the long-standing inter-state boundary issues between the two states.  The states have deployed security personnel in the areas near the Vairengte village, Mizoram and Lailapur, Assam.

Highlights

=> Vairengte in Kolasib district is the northern fringe of Mizoram. National Highway 306 (formerly 54) passes through the area that connects Mizoram to  Assam.

=> Mizoram shares a 164.6-km border with Assam out of which most of the areas are disputed between two states.

=> Dialogues are being held since 1995 to resolve the issue but have not yielded results.

Recent Issue

The recent dispute is over the land claimed by Assam. That land is being cultivated by residents of Mizoram since long time.  Assam claimed that the land comes within the Singla Forest Reserve which is under the jurisdiction of Assam government. On the other hand, Mizoram claims the land comes under the inner-line reserve forest notified in 1875. Mizoram also blamed illegal migrants are coming from Bangladesh on the Assam side. However, the agreement between the governments of Assam and Mizoram states that both sides have to maintain status quo in no man’s land in the border area.

Background

The background of the dispute lies in the notification of 1875 and Notification of 1933 . The 1857 notification had  differentiated Lushai Hills from the plains of Cachar while 1933 notification demarcates a boundary between Lushai Hills and Manipur. Mizoram claims the boundary should be demarcated on the basis of the 1875 notification that has been derived from the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR) Act, 1873. On the other hand, The Assam government followed the 1933 notification.