Assam Minister Atul Bora Meets Mizoram CM Lalduhoma to Resolve Border Dispute

Aizawl (Mizoram) [India], August 10: Assam Border Protection & Development Minister Atul Bora met with Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma in Aizawl on Saturday to express his gratitude for the commitment to resolving the border issues between Assam and Mizoram.

During the meeting, Minister Atul Bora thanked Chief Minister Lalduhoma for his dedication to maintaining peace and harmony along their borders. The meeting was also attended by Lalmuanpuia Punte, Adviser to the Mizoram CM (Political), along with senior officials from both states.

Earlier on Friday, a delegation from Assam, led by Atul Bora, met with Mizoram’s Home Minister K. Sapdanga and Minister of Land, Revenue, and Settlement B. Lalchhanzova in Aizawl to amicably resolve the Assam-Mizoram inter-state border issues. Following the meeting, a joint statement was signed by Mizoram Home Minister K. Sapdanga and Assam Border Protection & Development Minister Atul Bora.

The joint statement reaffirmed that the ‘Goodwill Mission’ between the Government of Mizoram and the Government of Assam, held on August 9, 2024, in Aizawl, is a continuation of the firm commitment made during the February 9 meeting between the Chief Ministers of Assam and Mizoram to resolve the inter-state boundary dispute in an atmosphere of understanding and goodwill.

“Both states agreed to continue promoting and maintaining peace and harmony and to prevent any untoward incidents along the inter-state border. Joint cultural and sports festivals may be organized at frequent intervals by the concerned administrative authorities of the inter-state border districts of Mizoram and Assam, with the first event scheduled before January 31, 2025,” the joint statement read.

The border dispute between the two neighboring states involves three districts of Mizoram–Kolasib, Aizawl, and Mamit–that share a 164.6 km border with three districts of Assam–Cachar, Hailakandi, and Karimganj.

According to the Assam government, Assam recognizes the constitutional boundary between Assam and Mizoram as defined by Notification No. 2106 A.P. dated 09.03.1933 and the State of Mizoram Act, 1986. However, Mizoram’s position is that the boundary line should be based on the Inner Line Notification No. 2299P dated 20/08/1875, citing historical and ethnic grounds.

Encroachment efforts from the Mizoram side have persisted for a long time, and during a meeting between the Chief Ministers of both states on September 24, 2014, an agreement was reached to maintain the status quo, with delineation and demarcation of the boundary to be carried out through a tripartite mechanism involving the Survey of India and the land authorities of both states.

Notably, the border dispute turned violent in July 2021, resulting in the deaths of seven Assam police personnel and injuries to several others. Following this, multiple rounds of meetings were held between delegations from Assam and Mizoram to resolve the issue amicably. Mizoram was made a Union Territory in 1972 and later became a state in 1987. Although the state initially accepted its border with Assam, Mizoram gradually began disputing it.