Assam, Mizoram border dispute

The Chief Ministers of Assam and Mizoram have sought to ease tensions along the border.

Recent incidents/developments:

=> The police forces of both States exchanged fires on July 26. This left six Assam policemen and a civilian dead and 60 others injured.

=> Assam claimed the firing was one-sided and unprovoked, while Mizoram said they retaliated to the aggression by the Assam police.

Origins of the dispute:

=> The two States share a 164.6-km volatile border and the conflict is decades-old.

At the center of the dispute are two notifications- 1875 and 1993:

=> Mizoram claims that the land is theirs is based on an 1875 notification, which came from the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act of 1873.

=> Assam claims that the land is theirs based on a 1933 notification that demarcated the Lushai Hills, which Mizoram was formerly known as, from the province of Manipur.

Impacts of such incidents:

=> Since the July 26 incident, locals in Assam have blocked the National Highway-306 besides uprooting a stretch of the lone railway track connecting Mizoram. Transportation of people and goods to and from Mizoram has thus been affected.

What needs to be done?

=> The Supreme Court should be approached for an amicable solution.

=> CRPF forces should patrol and monitor the region under the direct supervision of the Union government should be increased.

=> Avoid posting sensitive messages and make judicious use of social media platform” to prevent any possible escalation of the situation.

North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC):

To solve the Assam- Mizoram border dispute and to arrive at a permanent solution, the Centre has asked the North Eastern Space Application Centre (NESAC) to map and demarcate the State boundaries using satellite imaging.

About NESAC:

Established in 2005, it is a joint initiative of the Department of Space (DoS) and the North Eastern Council (NEC). It is located in Shillong. It helps in augmenting the developmental process in the region by providing advanced space technology support.