Assam, Mizoram talks over border row on August 5

GUWAHATI: Moving forward from six days of hostile face-off on the border, Assam and Mizoram will hold talks to resolve the decades old boundary dispute in Aizawl on August 5.
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday evening tweeted, “Further, in aid of an early amicable resolution,” he was sending his two cabinet colleagues — agriculture minister Atul Borah and housing and urban affairs minister Ashok Singhal — to Aizawl on August 5 “for a meaningful dialogue.”

He added, “Assam stands committed to ensuring peace on its borders, paving the way for a peaceful & developed northeast.” Borah, who is from Asom Gana Praishad, is known to have a close and personal rapport with Mizoram CM Zoramthanga since several decades.

Zoramthanga, who is under quarantine following Covid-19 protocol after coming in contact with a positive case, will complete his isolation on Tuesday.
As a goodwill gestures to each other ahead of the talks, Mizoram CM ordered his police to drop the FIR field by Vairengte police against his counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma, six Assam government officials in civil administration and police and 200 unidentified Assam Police personnel.
“In order to build a conducive atmosphere for amicable solution to the #MizoramAssamBorder dispute & to reduce the plight of suffering citizens,I have directed @mizorampolice to withdraw FIR dt. 26.07.2021 filed at Vairengte,Kolasib District, Mizoram against all the accused persons,” Zoramthanga tweeted.

Very soon, Sarma tweeted back, “I learn that Honble CM @ZoramthangaCM has asked @mizorampolice to withdraw FIR dt 26.7.21 against our officers.I heartily reciprocate this positive gesture and ask @assampolice to withdraw cases against DC Kolasib and SDPO Virengte.”

What followed after home minister Amit Shah’s fresh initiative that led to offer of the olive branches by chief ministers of both states were a series of goodwill gestures from both states. Late on Sunday night, Himanta directed Assam Police to withdraw the FIR against Mizoram’s Rajya Sabha MP K Vanlalvena in reciprocation to his Mizoram counterpart Zoramthanga’s public declaration to resolve the crisis through discussions.
Mizoram governor Hari Babu Kambhampati met the PM and home minister on Monday and discussed the border issue. Later, he said that Shah was trying to diffuse the situation and find a solution and both the CMs have reiterated that peace will be restored.