Boundary dispute resolution mechanism

Decision to deploy central forces along Assam-Mizoram boundary is a pragmatic move to prevent escalation in the prevailing situation along the disputed areas. Return of peace and normalcy will create a conducive atmosphere for the two neighbouring states for sustained dialogue to resolve the dispute over boundary. Both the states, however, must remain cautious that the deployment of Central force should be purely a temporary arrangement. The dependence on central forces for management of the disputed boundary between the two states cannot be in perpetuity. Lessons must be drawn from recurrence of boundary skirmishes along Assam-Nagaland boundary despite deployment of central forces as neutral force along the disputed sectors for decades. Both the Assam Government and the Mizoram government should make sustained efforts to resolve the boundary dispute through dialogue at the earliest. Union Joint Secretary (Northeast) at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Satyendra Garg during his visit to Mizoram in the wake of the outbreak of violence along the inter-state boundary announced that the Central government is keen on bringing a permanent solution to the dispute by March-April 2021. Boundary dispute cannot be resolved by claiming and deploying state police forces to assert control over certain territory. The Central government should mediate and convene meeting to discuss the boundary dispute across the table. Status-quo must be maintained by both the states till disputes are mutually resolved through discussion. It is a sad state of affair that the inter-state boundary disputes in the northeast region have remained unresolved for decades. The two state governments should remain alert against vested forces taking advantage of the situation to foment trouble and incite innocent people living on both sides of boundary to indulge in violence. Police forces in both the states must take prompt and strong action against anyone taking law into their hands, indulging in rumour mongering and other activities that lead to break down in inter-dependence of people of the two neighbouring states. Involvement of some non-state actors as trouble mongers has come to the notice of the Assam Government. The two states should alert each other against such non-state actors and initiate coordinated action to nab them. Assam government has recommended a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into the whole incident. Institution of the NIA probe by the Central government will ensure an impartial inquiry and the findings will be acceptable to both the states. People living along the boundary must be assured that the dispute was being addressed at official level for resolution and may take some time but for dialogue to continue peace and tranquillity must be maintained at all cost. The ruling parties of the two states being constituent of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), can play an active role in defusing the tension. In a landlocked region like northeast, the states cannot afford to let minor disputes escalate into full-blown conflicts resulting in breakdown of inter-dependence. The states in the region are inter-dependent for trade and commerce, development projects, tourism, and other economic activities as well as for sustaining their age-old cultural practices. Removing all barriers in free movement of vehicles and people is the crucial first step of Confidence Building Measures. The two states having long stretches of international boundaries, there are possibilities of forces inimical to India seeking to exploit the volatile situation. Media in both the states should also exercise restraint while reporting the incidents and must refrain from publishing or telecasting any information or unwarranted statement by any organization or individuals that may lead to escalation. There should be strong vigil over social media posts and social networking sites must be told to immediately remove any post containing hate speech or content that may foment trouble and cause disharmony. Civil society organizations' in the two states can play a crucial role by giving wide publicity to stories of good Samaritans helping stranded and affected people on their social networking sites. Ministers and bureaucrats in both the states should also refrain from divulging specifics about the incidents and the dispute which have the potential to incite people and may be exploited by mischief mongers to add fuel to the fire. There can be dangerous consequences of playing to the galleries in a charged atmosphere such as violence breaking out over boundary disputes. A three-tier mechanism at the state level, district level and police station level will help quick handling of the situation and prevent a flare up. With 2021 Assembly elections couple of months away, the Assam government will have to take extra precaution that trouble along the inter-state border does not to lead to any unwarranted law-and-order situation in the border districts. A formal meeting of the chief ministers of the two states can defuse the situation fast and should be convened at the earliest.