Mizoram and Assam have agreed to maintain the status quo in disputed border areas after fresh tensions along the inter-state boundary, Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma said on Friday. Both states committed to dialogue and coordinated measures to resolve the dispute amicably. Speaking at a conference of the Mizoram Police Service Association (MPSA) in Aizawl, Lalduhoma confirmed that he had discussed the matter with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. “We have agreed to continue to respect and maintain the status quo in the disputed areas along the inter-state border, as previously discussed,” he said.
The latest tensions follow an incident on August 15, when Assam police personnel and forest officials allegedly entered Saikhawthlir village in Mizoram’s Mamit district and destroyed around 290 rubber plants cultivated by locals. The plantation, part of Mizoram’s Chief Minister Rubber Mission, was managed by the state’s land resources, soil, and water conservation department.Subsequent meetings between the deputy commissioners and police chiefs of Mamit (Mizoram) and Hailakandi (Assam) led to a mutual understanding to handle disputes amicably and improve coordination, though both sides continued to assert claims over the land. Mamit Deputy Commissioner K. Laltlawmlova stated that official maps place the site under Mizoram’s Kawrtha forest division, while Hailakandi Deputy Commissioner Abhishek Jain maintained it falls within Assam’s inner line reserve forest under the Gharmura range, citing the Reserved Forest Act, 1980.
Mizoram shares a 164.6 km border with Assam’s Cachar, Hailakandi, and Karimganj districts. Historical colonial-era demarcations from 1875 and 1933 have contributed to recurring disputes, occasionally turning violent. The last major clash near Vairengte in July 2021 left seven people dead. Since then, multiple rounds of ministerial-level talks and official negotiations have emphasized maintaining peace while pursuing a long-term resolution.
