The Assam-Mizoram boundary row turned ugly on Monday when six police officials of Assam were killed in clashes at the border with Mizoram. The tension between the two states has been building for the past few days along the interstate boundary. Mizoram said the violence started after the Assam Police crossed the boundary and “overran” a police post at Kolasib in violation of the understanding between the police of the two states. Interestingly, this latest violence took place just two days after union Home Minister Amit Shah met all the chief ministers of the Northeast in Shillong. The situation continues to remain tense.
Also, on Monday, a report of clashes between officials of Assam and citizens of Meghalaya was reported near the Assam-Meghalaya boundary. Ever since Himanta Biswa Sarma assumed the office of the chief minister, attempts are being made to take an aggressive stand while dealing with interstate boundary issues. In the last few days, reports of clashes have emerged from the Assam-Nagaland, the Assam-Meghalaya and the Mizoram-Assam boundaries. It looks like Assam is having a row with almost every neighbouring state. This kind of expansionist mindset to capture the land of neighbouring states is very dangerous for peace and stability of the NE region. The people of Arunachal living near the interstate boundary have also suffered a lot from the constant harassment by Assam Police and forest officials. Massive land belonging to Arunachal has been illegally captured by Assam in the last 30 years. It is time that Assam shed its expansionist mindset and tried to resolve the boundary rows with all the states amicably.