Home Ministry addresses Assam-Mizoram land dispute, committee to visit disputed territories

Today, in a meeting in the national capital, both Assam and Mizoram governments inclined to maintain status quo in the disputed areas of the two neighbouring states to maintain peace and harmony.

The meeting was chaired by home secretary Rajiv Gauba, a fortnight after violence broke in Kachurtal area of Hailakandi district in Assam. Both Assam and Mizoram governments were represented by their respective chief secretaries. The officials reached to the unanimous conclusion that no gathering of people in the disputed areas will be allowed until further notice. The Home Ministry has asked the two State governments to take necessary measures to ensure peace.

In the meeting, it was also decided that a team comprising joint secretary of North East region in the Home Ministry, and principal secretaries of both Assam and Mizoram governments would inspect the disputed territory within a week. Officials from the Survey of India whenever needed would assist the committee, which will then submit its report to the Union Home Secretary. Following that, Home Minister Rajnath Singh will convene a meeting involving chief ministers of the two states.

Going back to the past incident, it all started on February 27, 2018 near national highway 154 at Kachurtal area in Hailakandi district, Assam. MZP had stationed a signboard stating the land belongs to MZP and this is a site for Zofate Chawlbhuk. They had also built a waiting-shed with wooden benches. They claim that the land originally belonged to the family of first Chief Minister of Mizoram Ch. Chhunga, and the family has now donated the land to the youth organisation MZP.

Assam police with the help of state forest department demolished the shed built by the Mizo organisation and the two states had official exchanges, and Assam government clearly mentioned it to the counterpart that the land belongs to Assam and encroachment will not be tolerated. On March 7, the MZP decided to re-build the waiting shed exactly at the same location. Since then, the two parties had several confrontations. On March 10, 2018 the MZP retreated and since then people of Assam residing in Mizoram are facing serious security issues.

On March 12, 2018 Mizoram chief minister, Lal Thanhawla wrote a letter to Home Minister Rajnath Singh and requested Ministry of Home Affairs to intervene immediately to restore peace in the region. In the letter to the Home Minister, Thanhawala stated the alleged firing by Assam Poilice on Mizo youth in Kachurtal, was “unfortunate and uncalled for”.