In the midst of continuous border tensions between Assam and Mizoram, Assam Minister Ashok Singhal said on Thursday that the Mizoram government has not evacuated its police from the disputed location and expressed optimism that negotiations will pave the way for a settlement.

Ashok Singhal who holds the state’s Housing, Urban Affairs and Irrigation portfolio told ANI, “The Ministry of Home Affairs had ordered CRPF to be deployed, we have given our post to CRPF but Mizoram government has still not removed its people from the post, which is sad. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said that the dispute can be resolved by talks.”

“It feels like the Mizo people wish to settle the dispute via arms and ammunitions. If it is so, then, this approach itself is wrong. Also, six police officers of Assam Police were martyred during the clash while Mizoram officials continued to shoot LMG (light machine guns) at the disputed site. Peace and harmony between the two states is yet to be attained”, said the minister.

The minister further stated that Mizoram should recognise that the people of both states “should live together and progress together.”

Meanwhile, the Mizoram administration on Wednesday requested that the Centre interfere in the border conflict with Assam, claiming that miscreants from Assam had destroyed railway rails and obstructed National Highway (NH) 306, impeding transportation to the state.

Mizoram Home Secretary Pu Lalnunmawia Chuaungo has asked the Centre to take prompt steps to lift the blockage and allow commodities and travellers to return to Mizoram.

As part of the Centre’s efforts to de-escalate the border dispute, Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla met with Assam Chief Secretary Jishnu Baruah and Mizoram Chief Secretary Lalnunmawia Chuaungo on Wednesday.

On Monday, the border conflict between the two states reached a climax, when a violent fire fight between the two states’ troops resulted in the deaths of five Assam police officers and one civilian.

One injured officer died as a result of his injuries, bringing the total number of officers murdered to six. The event harmed at least 50 individuals. A total of six companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have been deployed at the site where the policemen died. Six companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have been deployed at the scene of the policemen’s deaths.