Indian police killed by Indian police – What’s up in Assam & Mizo border?

India has border disputes of Line of Control (LOC) with Pakistan and Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. There are some river disputes between two states like the Cauvery river dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu but there were no border disputes among any two states of the country. 

The Mizoram Police has booked Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and four senior Assam Police officers, accusing them of attempt to murder and criminal conspiracy, among other charges. Assam police were also summoned Mizoram MP K Vanlavena for making threatening statements. They are in Delhi looking for Rajya Sabha MP. Situation between the two states seems to have worsened in the recent past.

Assam is almost like the big brother of North Eastern States. 7 north eastern states have many tribes and sub-tribes. It shares a land border with 4 states out of 7 North Eastern States. Assam has 3.5 crore population which is more than twice of the total 6 states in the region. Assam has a border of 165 km with Mizoram state which has the smallest population of just 13 lakhs. Mizoram was created as a state in 1987 after it separated from Assam. Reserve forest lies in between two states and the majority of the forest lies in Assam. Mizoram people have the opinion that Assam has dominated them in every issue including the natural resources. Assam has accused Mizoram of building a road, destroying a Reserve forest in Lailapur. The Assam government has issued an advisory asking people not to travel to Mizoram. Other side of the coin, Mizoram alleged that Assam police targeted vehicles on the highways and used tear gas on locals who came to enquire.

BJP has ruled two of key states like Assam and Tripura in the North Eastern region. Mizo National Front (MNF) party is in NDA and BJP has good relations with Chief Minister Zoramthanga. When India has a strong Home Minister like Amit Shah, BJP has not concentrated on disputes between two states. BJP has failed to control Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma’s arrogant statements that the situation is out of control. He said that Assam would deploy 4K police to maintain law and order at the border. He ordered checking of all vehicles entering from Mizoram for illicit drugs. His provoked statements worsened the situation further. BJP and RSS have dreamt of Unity in Diversity in North Eastern States which will not be possible because of having different tribes fighting for their existence.