Assam-Mizoram Border Row LIVE Updates: Not an Inch of Assam Will be Conceded, Says CM Himanta Sarma, State Govt to Move SC

Tension flared along the Assam-Mizoram border on Monday over an ongoing land dispute between the two states resulting in violence and vandalism.

Inter-state border disputes can "only" be resolved with the cooperation of state governments involved in the matter and the Centre just acts as a facilitator in such cases, the Union government…

The border dispute between Assam and Mizoram goes back to the colonial times and hinges on constitutional and historical perceptions of territorial lines

Assam-Mizoram Border Clash: Congress Forms 7-member Committee to Assess Ground Situation | The Congress has formed a seven-member committee to visit Assam's Cachar district to assess the situation on the ground after violence erupted along the state's border with Mizoram on Monday. The committee will submit a detailed report to the party on the matter, Congress in-charge for Assam Jitendra Singh said.

A damaged security force vehicle at the site of the Monday's clashes at Lailapur on the Assam-Mizoram border in Cachar district. (PTI Photo)

CM Himanta Biswa Sarma adds: The Assam govt has decided to move to the Supreme Court over issue of borders. So that no one can encroach reserve forests. It's a long-standing border dispute between two states and not two political parties. We do not want land, we only want that reserve forests should not be allowed for any state's settlement. We are fine. We do not want any land there. Assam does not believe in revenge and economic blockade."

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma: "We discussed and urged to solve issues about a new post. LMG was used and a relentless firing of 30 minutes. We will ensure Assam's and Mizoram's forest areas remain preserved for future generations. The satellite pictures show Mizoram has made some settlements in these areas. Reserve forests need to be conserved and maintained."

Ex-gratia of Rs 50L for Victims' Kin | The Assam Chief Minister also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 50 lakh to the families of those who lost their lives to the border conflict with Mizoram. "The Mizoram police are still at the post. The Mizoram government started making a road on the inner land of Assam. Our government has done a survey of all borders and as per satellite imagery status quo is maintained. Whatever the position is, status quo will be maintained," he said.

Not An Inch of Assam Will be Conceded, Says CM Himanta | At Silchar, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma says "not an inch of Assam will be conceded (to Mizoram)" and all police personnel guarding the borders will be provided with one month's extra salary by the Assam government." "I have spoken to CM of Meghalaya six times. For development, these kind of issues need to be resolved. Moments when the firing started, I called Meghalaya CM to take control. Not an inch of Assam will be conceded. All policemen guarding borders, Assam govt will provide them one month extra salary," he said.

Meanwhile, the Assam Congress has demanded a compensation of Rs 25 lakh to the families of those who lost their lives and Rs 10 lakh to the injured in the Assam-Mizoram clash.

Union Ministry of Home Affairs in Parliament: "The approach of the central government has consistently been that inter-state disputes can be resolved only with the cooperation of the states governments concerned and that the Centre acts only as a facilitator for amicable settlement of the dispute in the spirit of mutual understanding."

Home Ministry Confirms Border Disputes Between States | The Union Home Ministry on Tuesday told the Parliament that "there are boundary disputes arising out of demarcation of boundaries and claims and counter claims over territories between Haryana-Himachal Pradesh, UT of Ladakh-Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra-Karnataka, Assam-Arunachal Pradesh, Assam-Nagaland, Assam-Meghalaya and Assam-Mizoram."

Assam Declares 3-day State Mourning | The Assam government declared a threeday state mourning from Tuesday to condole the death of five policemen and one civilian in a border clash with Mizoram on the previous day, a notification said. During this period, the national flag will fly at halfmast and there will be no public entertainment, the order issued by the General Administration Department said.

Congress MP from Assam, Ripun Bora gives a short duration discussion notice in Rajya Sabha, under rule 176, and demands discussion on yesterday's Assam -Mizoram border clash which claimed the lives of six personnel of Assam Police.

Public Outrage Pours Road, Assam-Mizoram Highway Blocked | Angered by Monday's firing that left five cops dead in Assam, locals have blocked the Assam-Mizoram National Highway at Kabuganz Bazaar of Cachar district in south Assam. 

'Such Unremitting Incidents Under BJP's Watch Invited Death of Democracy': TMC on Assam-Mizoram Border Clash | Expressing shock over the Assam-Mizoram inter-state border clash that has claimed the lives of at least five policemen and injured 60 others, senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday said that such unremitting incidents under the BJP's watch have invited the death of democracy in India.

The Ministry of Home Affairs is watching the situation closely, said sources, adding that it is "in touch with administration of both Assam and Mizoram". Situation at this moment appears under control, sources said. "The situation is fluid at the moment. Decision will be taken as per circumstances in the House," sources said on wheher Home Minister is likely to make a statement about the border clash.

CM Himanta Biswa Sarma Lays Wreath, Pays Tributes to Slain Cops | The Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, laid wreaths to pay his homage to the police personnel, who lost their lives in the border clash on Monday night, in Silchar. 

Home Minister Has 'Failed' Country: Rahul on Assam-Mizoram Border Violence | Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today attacked Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the violence at the Assam-Mizoram border, alleging that he has "failed" the country by "sowing hatred and distrust" into the lives of people and India is now reaping its "dreadful consequences". "Heartfelt condolences to the families of those who've been killed. I hope the injured recover soon," Gandhi tweeted, tagging a purported video of the violence. "HM has failed the country yet again by sowing hatred and distrust into the lives of people. India is now reaping its dreadful consequences," the former Congress chief said.

Assam CM Himanta Lands in Silchar, Meets Injured Cops | A night after the bloody conflict broke out at the Assam-Mizoram border, killing five police personnel and injuring around 60 cops, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday reached Silchar to meet the injured police personnel at the hospital and the border area. 

The Assam Govt's Official Statement on the Border Row with Mizoram | "It is with a heavy heart that we are constrained to note that what is being termed by the Mizoram side as an intrusion and aggression by Assam, has left 5 Assam Police personnel confirmed dead (6 as per initial reports, which is being confirmed)," the Assam government statement said. It also said that more than 50 police personnel, including the Cachar SP Nimbalkar Vaibhav Chandrakant who has a bullet embedded in his leg and is in the ICU, were injured.

The deceased have been identified as sub-inspector Swapan Kr Roy and constables Liton Suklabaidya, M H Barbhuyia, N Hussain and S Barbhuiya, it added. The Assam government said that a team of officials, including an IG, DIG, DC Cachar, SP Cachar and DFO Cachar, went to sort out issues related to alleged construction of a road by Mizoram towards Rengti Basti in Assam, destroying the Inner Line Reserve Forest in Lailapur area.

Conflict Erupts After Weeks of Border Tension | After allegations of encroachment of territory by both sides over the past few weeks and skirmishes that escalated tensions between the two states, violent clashes were reported along the inter-state border that ended in the death of at least five Assam policemen. The incidents came two days after Amit Shah held talks with the chief ministers of eight northeastern states and underscored the need to resolve lingering border disputes.

Home Minister Amit Shah Urges for Peace | Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to the chief ministers of Assam and Mizoram, Himanta Biswa Sarma and Zoramthanga respectively, and urged them to ensure peace along the disputed border and find an amicable settlement. Assam's Barak Valley districts of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi share a 164 km long border with Mizoram's three districts of Aizawl, Kolasib and Mamit.

5 Assam Cops Killed in Border Conflict with Mizoram | At least five Assam Police personnel were killed while defending the "constitutional boundary" of the state with Mizoram and more than 60 people injured, including an SP, as the festering border dispute between the two northeastern states erupted into a bloody conflict on Monday, officials said. Earlier, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had claimed six police personnel were killed in action during the clashes.

An Assam government statement later revised the figure just before midnight and said that five state police personnel died and more than 50 people of the force were injured. Ten other people were also injured in the clash, officials of Assam's Cachar district said.