Assam Border Protection Minister Atul Bora & Minister for Urban Development Ashok Singhal met with Mizoram Home Minister Lalchamliana & MoS Lalruatkima at Aizawl today to resolve the border dispute going on between both the states.
The much-anticipated meeting was important in improving the relationship between both the states, after the violent Vairengte clashes which took the life of six Assam Police personnel at the Assam Mizoram border on July 26.
In the joint statement issued, Both the parties agreed to find ‘lasting solutions’ to the interstate border dispute and to take forward the steps taken by the union home ministry and both the chief ministers. The representatives of the Mizoram Govt also expressed their condolences on the loss of jawans on July 26.
Both the state governments have also agreed to maintain peace and order in the interstate border area welcoming the withdrawal of a neutral centrally armed police force.
Both the states have also decided not to send their respective police and forest protection forces for ‘patroling’, ‘domination’, ‘enforcement’ or for fresh deployment in any of the areas where “confrontation or conflict has taken place between the police forces in recent times,” in the districts of Hailakandi, Cachar, and Karimganj in Assam & Mamit and Kolasib in Mizoram.
Representatives of both sides also agreed to “take all necessary measures to promote, preserve and maintain peace and harmony among the people living in Assam and Mizoram particularly in the border areas.”
Mizoram Home Minister Lalchamlina echoed the sentiments. “We should forget the past and move on,” he said, replying to a query on the disturbances in the border area.