MHA diktat: Central Armed Police Forces to guard Assam-Mizoram border

New Delhi: The Assam and Mizoram governments on Wednesday decided to withdraw the state police forces from the disputed border area following a meeting in the Union Home Ministry. Both the states also came to a consensus to bring peace in the conflict-prone inter-state border area. Following three back-to-back meetings between Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Mizoram Chief Secretary Lalnunmawia Chuaungo and his Assam counterpart Jishnu Barua, it was decided to deploy neutral forces (Central Armed Police Force) in the disturbed Assam-Mizoram border area along National Highway 306.

Mizoram DGP SBK Singh and Assam DGP Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta were also present in the meeting. It was decided that to facilitate the functioning of neutral forces, both Assam and Mizoram governments will work out arrangements in coordination with the Ministry of Home Affairs within a reasonable time frame. The chief secretaries of both the states signed an agreement and agreed to continue discussions mutually to resolve the border issue amicably.

Days after the deadly violent incident that took place along the Assam-Mizoram border, chief secretaries and DGPs of both the states have been summoned to New Delhi. Chaired by Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla, the first meeting in the morning took place with Mizoram government officials followed by another meeting with Assam government representatives. In the third round of meeting that took place in the afternoon, both the state governments came to a consensus to bring peace to the region.

"We have come to a consensus following today's meeting. We have clarified that Assam will always protect its constitutional boundaries at any costs," said Assam Chief Secretary Jishnu Barua. Mizoram chief secretary Chuaungo claimed that the situation in the border area is under control at present. "We have decided to withdraw our forces from the disputed area," he said.

Meanwhile, Congress MP in the Rajya Sabha Ripun Bora has demanded suspension of business of the Rajya Sabha on Thursday and called for a discussion over the Assam-Mizoram border conflict under Rule 267. Bora, on Wednesday, has also appealed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah to convene an all-party meeting over the Assam-Mizoram border conflict.

"If the tension is not curbed with a positive political response to the matters related to the border disputes, the situation in both the States may go from bad to worse with its adverse impact in other north-eastern states," said Bora in his letter to Amit Shah, highlighting that the border disputes of Assam-Mizoram have arrived at a volatile stage.