AIZAWL, Sept 23: Constituted by the state government of Mizoram as an initiative on the boundary dispute issue with Assam, Mizoram State Boundary Committee (MSBC) had submitted its finding reports to the state government.
Tension has been brewing for the last two weeks in the Assam-Mizoram border over the border dispute. Alleged dismantling of a border pillar near Vairente (Mizoram) and Dhalai (Assam) on Friday by miscreants from Mizoram has heightened the tension. Following the volatile situation, measures by both Mizoram and Assam governments have been taken.
On Sunday, C. Chawngkunga who is the chairman of MSBC said that steps are being taken not only over Assam-Mizoram boundary issue, but regarding its boundary issue with Manipur also. The Mizoram State Boundary Committee will study all the boundary dispute related issues of Mizoram with the neighbouring states, said C.Chawngkunga.
Lok Sabha MP from Mizoram, legislator CL Ruala, Lalduhoma, Wing Commander (retd.) Lalnghinglova, and Lalhmangaiha, Revenue Director (retd.) among others are members of the state government constituted MSBC.
MSBC is also undergoing survey work in the Indo-Bangladesh border (Mizoram border).
Meanwhile, people in the Assam’s Cachar district have expressed resentment after the boundary pillar erected near Vairengte by Assam was demolished by miscreants from Mizoram. Cachar district additional deputy commissioner had visited the spot where the border pillar was dismantled. The officer said that the boundary is under strict vigil.
It can be noted here that All Barak Youth and Students Association, Dalit Sena and other NGOs had organized a joint rally in Silchar on September 20 in protest against the dismantling of the border pillar and had submitted a memorandum to the Assam chief minister through the Cachar deputy commissioner demanding solution to the problem.
The Kolasib district (Mizoram) deputy commissioner has reportedly invited his Cachar district counterpart to hold a negotiation on the boundary dispute issue which is expected to take place soon.
Mention may be made here that tension has been prevailing in the Assam-Mizoram border since last week following the allegation hurled by Zoram National Party (ZNP) that Assam was trying to grab the land of Mizoram. Adding fuel to this tension was the Friday incident where a border pillar was found dismantled near Vairengte (Mizoram) and Dhalai (Assam). The villagers in Assam had alleged that people from Mizoram side came and destroyed the pillar. Assam and Mizoram share a common border of 123 kilometres. However, the people residing in the Mizoram side counter alleged that a pillar was erected near Vairengte in Mizoram by authorities from Assam side claiming as their land.
Meanwhile, Mizo People’s Convention (MPC) president Lalhmangaiha Sailo said the dispute can be settled by constituting a coundary commission that will hold negotiation with the concerned higher authority.
Saying that over the past years various political parties and leaders of Mizoram state had dealt the issue of border dispute with the neighbouring Assam state “but till date no solution is in sight.” MPC proposed that the problem on the boundary dispute could be solved by constituting a boundary commission and by way of negotiation.
Lalhmangaiha Sailo then claimed that the boundary line accepted by Mizoram is that of the one demarcated by the Mizo chiefs and the British Government in the year 1875. “However, in the passage of time, the Assam state does not accept that boundary line and therefore dispute on boundary has occurred between the two states since the time of District Council,” the Mizo People’s Convention (MPC) chief added. Lalhmangaiha Sailo then expressed his wish that the present Mizoram government may approach the central government and ask for constituting a boundary commission.
“One surprising thing in the political history of Mizoram is that when Mizo National Front (MNF) and the Government of India signed the Peace Accord on July 31, 1986, there was no mention of the boundary dispute between Assam and Mizoram. Whether the MNF did not think about it at all, or the MNF leaders could not convince the Indian Government leaders on the matter, no one knows. If there is any one who can give the answer to this question, it would clear the confusion,” MPC president Lalhmangaiha Sailo pointed out.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/boundary-committee-submits-report/
