Northeast India has been witnessing inter-state border disputes since the early 1960s when the process of carving out states from the undivided Assam commenced.

The most recent in the series of border disputes that plagued the region is the Assam–Mizoram border, which has been witnessing violent incidents since 2020.

What is the recent dispute?

In the recent incident, five policemen lost their lives and many were injured as a result of firing between the forces of Assam and Mizoram. Border disputes are not uncommon but it is the war-like confrontation between police personnel of the same country that is regretful and alarming. The violence spotlights the long-standing inter-state boundary issues in the Northeast, particularly between Assam and the states that were carved out of it.

About Assam-Mizoram Boundary Dispute

The boundary between present-day Assam and Mizoram, 165 km long, dates back to the colonial era, when Mizoram was known as Lushai Hills, a district of Assam.
The Assam-Mizoram border is shared between three districts of South Assam — Cachar, Hailakandi and Karimganj — and three districts of Mizoram — Kolasib, Mamit and Aizawl
Mizoram says Assam has been pushing its people 10-12 km inside their territory.
Mizoram’s official stand is that the boundary should be demarcated on the basis of notification in 1875 that distinguished the Lushai Hills (erstwhile district of Assam that became Mizoram) from the plains of Cachar.
The notification is based on the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act, 1873, which makes it obligatory for Indians beyond to possess a travel document to enter Mizoram.
Assam also has border disputes with Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, and Nagaland.

Had there been any confrontations in the Past?

There have been confrontations over territory in the northeast region in the past. For instance, at least 28 policemen were killed in clashes on the Assam-Nagaland border in June 1985.
The NSCN’s (National Socialist Council of Nagaland) demand for a Greater Nagaland or Nagalim.
This includes parts of Assam, Manipur, and Arunachal Pradesh. It has been a major roadblock in the resolution of the Naga issue.
Manipur has had its share of inter-state disputes resulting in destructive economic blockades.
The Assam-Mizoram border has seen the increase in violent incidents, particularly since last year, necessitating the deployment of paramilitary forces.

What is the present situation?

At present, the situation remains tense along the border.
Central forces are deployed along the border—Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and CRPF on Assam side and the Border Security Force (BSF) on Mizoram side of the border—to act as a buffer between the state police forces.
Efforts are being made to diffuse the tension. Most of the meetings between the officials intended to defuse tensions following border clashes rather than finding a permanent solution.
In this respect, in wake of a similar violent incident in 2018, the Mizo youth and civil society organizations had requested the Union government to constitute a boundary commission to demarcate the boundary.
But no decision was taken by the Union government in this regard.
Apart from Mizoram, other states in the Northeast are also embroiled in border disputes with Assam. The longest and the bloodiest of these is the border dispute between Assam and Nagaland.

What are the reasons behind the Assam-Mizoram border dispute and Inter-State border tensions?

(1) Fault lines created by Britishers in boundary demarcation are still unaddressed

They created boundaries as per their commercial interests. In the process, sensitivities of local communities regarding land were either ignored or suppressed.
Origin: The border dispute can trace its origins to the demarcation of Lushai Hills from the Cachar plains by the British in 1875. The British had drawn the boundary in consultation with Mizo chiefs.
But in 1933, the boundary between Lushai Hills and the then princely state of Manipur was demarcated. Manipur boundary began from the tri-junction of Lushai Hills, Cachar district of Assam, and Manipur state.
The Mizos do not accept this demarcation and point to the 1875 boundary, which was drawn in consultation with their chiefs.
In the decades after Independence, states and UTs were carved out of Assam based on the 1933 line.
This includes Nagaland (1963), Arunachal Pradesh (1972, formerly NEFA), Meghalaya (1972) and Mizoram (1972).

(2) Targeting migrants and outsiders

There has been a proliferation of political conversations that target migrants and “outsiders”.
This shrinks the space and scope for fluid borders and fixes the identities of people as per the region, to realize its cultural and economic potential.
Last year, volunteers of a Mizo student body started putting up checkpoints reportedly on the Assam side of the border.
They alleged that the descendants of the Lushai tribes were being denied their rightful home through increased encroachment by the Bangladeshi immigrants.
These checkpoints even prevented Assam government forest officials from carrying out their routine movements.

(3) Failure of the constitutional machinery empowered to de-escalate tensions at the border

The presence of central paramilitary forces should have helped maintain the peace, but it didn’t happen.
Further, both the states are ruled by allies of the central government. However, the political leadership failed to preserve peace in the region.

(4) Economic competition for land and scarcity of non-farm jobs

Economic competition for land, engendered by a lack of non-farm jobs across the Northeast region, is also enhancing bitterness among states. Most of the population is dependent on agriculture and the rising population is putting pressure on available land.

(5) Transportation of illegal drugs

Other issues that complicate the situation on the border include the transportation of illegal drugs that travel via Mizoram to Assam and other parts of the country.

How such incidents impact on North-East relationship?

Assam-Mizoram border dispute has the grave potential of disintegrating the cohesive regional relationship – politically, socially, and economically harboured by states for long.
Augments Trust Deficit: It hinders the probability of Interstate cooperation in the future due to enhanced trust deficit. This is testified by competing claims on the issue.
Increases Hatred in masses: Such instances tend to increase feelings of animosity between the residents of Mizoram and Assam. This will hamper India’s unity and integrity.
China factor and risk to national security: China will be watching these fights with relish. The state which feels more betrayed can be manipulated by China for its vested interests.
Domino Effect: If prudent action is not taken and violators are not duly punished, then such clashes will be seen on other disputed borders in the northeast region.

Need for the Interstate Boundary Commission

Considering the contesting claims of both the parties and the complexity of the issue, the foremost priority in working out a solution should be the institution of an Independent Interstate boundary commission.
After a careful consultative study, the commission should ideally formulate a solution that is considerate of all the stakeholders’ concerns.
One option could be the utilization of the disputed lands by the central government after compensating both the states.
Alternatively, an option of compensating one state and awarding land to the other or awarding the disputed land to both the states concerned equally could be considered as per stakeholders’ acknowledgement.
Whatever be the solution once worked out and accepted by the states, the Court could play a role of a guardian and take serious note of its arbitrary acts.

What can be done to bring the situation under control?

There is no sure-shot and quick solution possible to the border disputes between various states without a spirit of give and take, and a civic engagement brokered by the Union government.
The state leaders must nurture the peace, put in place institutional mechanisms to prevent breakdowns, and negotiate a way out of long-standing disputes.
The central government should use the opportunity to settle once and for all, the boundary disputes among states in North East India.
The whole stretch of reserve forests has to be freed of encroachments from either side.
The Home Ministry must ensure that the Assam-Mizoram border situation should first be subject to de-escalation and then return to the status quo.
The Constitution’s mechanisms for addressing inter-state disputes should be duly used. This includes activating an Inter-State Council (Article 263) or asking the Supreme Court to adjudicate (Article 131).
Further, a time-bound court-monitored commission involving local communities in joint demarcation exercises should be announced.

Other boundary issues in North-East India

During British rule, Assam included present-day Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya besides Mizoram, which became separate states one by one. Currently, Assam has boundary problems with each of them.

Assam-Nagaland

Nagaland shares a 500-km boundary with Assam. It achieved statehood in December 1963 and was formed out of the Naga Hills district of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh (then North-East Frontier Agency).
Violent clashes and armed conflicts, marked by killings, have occurred on the Assam-Nagaland border since 1965. The boundary dispute is in the Supreme Court.

Assam-Arunachal Pradesh

Both states have a boundary of over 800 km. Arunachal Pradesh was granted statehood by the State of Arunachal Pradesh Act, 1986 in 1987.
Clashes were first reported in 1992 and since then, there have been several accusations of illegal encroachment from both sides, and intermittent clashes.
This boundary issue is also being heard by the Supreme Court.

Assam-Meghalaya

The 884-km boundary between the two states also witnesses flare-ups.
Meghalaya came into existence as an autonomous state within the state of Assam in April 1970 comprising the United Khasi & Jaintia Hills and the Garo Hills districts.
In 1972, it got statehood. As per Meghalaya government statements, today there are 12 areas of dispute between the two states.

Way forward

It is important for both the states to accept that any conflict resolution measures involve compromises and sacrifices for the larger good.
The intervention of the Ministry of Home affairs by ordering central forces to all areas of disputed land until a lasting and amicable solution is reached should be respected in letter and spirit.
Satellite mapping of the actual border locations can be used to settle boundary disputes between the states.
Reviving the Inter-state council can be an option for the resolution of an Inter-state dispute.
Under Article 263 of the Constitution, the Inter-state council is expected to inquire and advise on disputes, discuss subjects common to all states and make recommendations for better policy coordination.
Similarly, Zonal councils need to be revived to discuss the matters of common concern to states in each zone—matters relating to social and economic planning, border disputes, inter-state transport, etc.
Ethos of cooperative federalism need to be imbibed by both the center and state governments to maintain and further increase the unity of India.