ASSAM-MIZORAM BORDER DISPUTE

INDEX

REFERENCE WITH UPSC-CSE SYLLABUS

• WHY IN NEWS
• WHAT IS THE ISSUE
• ROOT CAUSE OF DISPUTE
• KEY POINTS
• ARGUMENT BY ASSAM
• ARGUMENT BY MIZORAM
• RELEVANCE OF TOPIC RELATED TO POLITY
• CONCLUSION

EXPECTED PRELIMS QUESTIONS

EXPECTED MAINS QUESTIONS

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REFERENCE WITH UPSC-CSE SYLLABUS

• General Studies-II
• Inter-State Relations

WHY IN NEWS

• After the old boundary dispute between Assam and Mizoram exploded in violent clashes at a contested border point at least five Assam Police personnel were killed.
• A betel nut plantation and a farm hut belonging to two Mizoram residents were set on fire.
• Some people from Lailapur had pelted Mizoram police personnel and Mizoram residents with stones in Cachar.

WHAT IS THE ISSUE

• According to an agreement between the governments of Assam and Mizoram some years ago, status quo should be kept in no man’s land in the border area.
• But status quo was broken by people from Lailapur broke and allegedly constructed some temporary huts.
• From Mizoram's side, people went and set fire on them.

ROOT CAUSE OF DISPUTE

• A notification of 1875 that differentiated the Lushai Hills from the plains of Cachar the dispute stems from and another of 1933 that demarcates a boundary between the Lushai Hills and Manipur.
• The boundary should be demarcated based on the 1875 notification, which is derived from the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR) Act, 1873 Mizoram believes.
• In the past against the demarcation notified in 1933 Mizo leaders have argued because Mizo society was not consulted. 
• The point of conflict was that the Assam government follows the 1933 demarcation. 
• Mizoram leaders say they were not consulted on the 1933 demarcation. 

KEY POINTS

• Assam’s Barak Valley is border by Mizoram.
• Mizoram and Assam both border Bangladesh.
• Mizoram was known as Lushai Hills, a district of Assam that dates back to the colonial era.

 

ARGUMENT BY ASSAM

• Assam officers say the land belongs to Assam as per the state’s records.

ARGUMENT BY MIZORAM

• The land claimed by Assam has been cultivated for a long time by residents of Mizoram according to Mizoram officials.
• Mizoram’s civil society groups blame illegal Bangladeshis (alleged migrants from Bangladesh) on the Assam side for the trouble.

RELEVANCE OF TOPIC RELATED TO POLITY

• Article 131
• Article 263

CONCLUSION

• Stakeholders from both sides should be consulted and a proper solution based on facts and people's sentiments should be taken.
• Zonal council help can also be taken to find a solution.
• Using satellite mapping help to find the exact disputed reason and solution.
• The interstate council's help can be taken to find a solution to the problem.

EXPECTED PRELIMS QUESTIONS

Q1. Dibru-Saikhowa National Park is found in which state

(A) Mizoram

(B) Assam

(C) Manipur

(D) Arunachal pradesh 

Which of the following statement is correct?

(1) a 

(2) b 

(3) c

(4) d

SOLUTION B

Dibru-Saikhowa National Park is in Assam

 

Q2. Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary is in which state

(A) Assam

(B) Mizoram

(C) Karnataka

(D) Goa

Which of the following statement is correct?

(1) a 

(2) b 

(3) c

(4) d

SOLUTION

Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary is in Assam

 

Q3. Pualreng wildlife sanctuary is in which state

(A) Karnataka

(B) Assam

(C) Mizoram

(D) Manipur  

Which of the following statement is correct?

(1) a 

(2) b 

(3) c

(4) d

SOLUTION

Pualreng wildlife sanctuary is in Mizoram.

 

EXPECTED MAINS QUESTIONS

Q. Discuss how the border dispute between Assam and Mizoram shows failure of the constitutional machinery? 

Sources used:

The Hindu,The Indian Express, British Broadcasting Corporation News, Press Trust of India, Business Standard, The Economic Times