Aizawl: More than a week after the brutal violence along the Assam-Mizoram border, the governments of Assam and Mizoram on Thursday signed a joint statement, agreeing to maintain peace along the inter-state border areas.
The statement comes after two cabinet ministers of the Assam government reached Mizoram on Thursday as part of a peace initiative. Assam's Agriculture Minister Atul Bora and Irrigation Minister Ashok Singhal along with Commissioner and Secretary, Border Protection and Development, GD Tripathi visited Aizawl on Thursday and held discussions with the representatives of Mizoram Government as part of the initiative to build peace and confidence between the two states.
Mizoram side was represented by state's Home Minister Lalchamliana, Land Revenue & Settlement Minister Lalruatkima and state's Home Secretary Vanlalngathsaka.
Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga's tweet Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga took to Twitter to announce the arrival of the Assam ministers. "Shri @ATULBORA2 ji and Shri @TheAshokSinghal ji landed on Lengpui Airport. The Assam delegates will have a meeting with representatives from Govt. of Mizoram soon at Aizawl," Zoramthanga posted on his Twitter handle, along with the pictures of the leaders.
Also read:Ruckus in Assam Assembly over boundary clash, oppn demands probe by Central agencies
Assam Agriculture Minister Atul Bora said that the talks were held amicably in line with the dialogue process initiated by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga.
Assam Agriculture Minister Atul Bora on twitter "Today's meeting was a great step forward to achieve lasting peace & resolution of border issues," Bora tweeted. However, the Assam delegation did not get a face-to-face with the CM Zoramthanga. "I talked to Hon'ble Mizoram CM Shri @ZoramthangaCM over phone and expressed my regards. The Hon'ble Mizoram CM also conveyed his regards to Hon'ble CM Dr. @himantabiswa during the telephonic talk," his tweet added.
Assam Agriculture Minister Atul Bora on twitter The statement said that both governments had agreed to take forward the initiatives of the Union Home Ministry and the Chief Ministers of Assam and Mizoram towards easing the prevailing tensions between the two states and find lasting solutions to the border conflict through meaningful dialogue.
The joint statement said that the two states will not send their respective Forest & Police forces for patrolling, domination, enforcement/for fresh deployment to any areas where confrontation has taken place recently. Both states welcomed the Union government's decision to deploy neutral forces in the violence-hit areas, including all such areas along the Assam-Mizoram border in the districts of Karimganj, Hailakandi and Cachar in Assam and Mamit and Kolasib districts in Mizoram.
Also read:'Bullets rained from high positions from Mizoram side'
Representatives of both governments agreed to take all necessary measures to promote, preserve and maintain peace and harmony amongst the people living in Assam and Mizoram, particularly in the border areas.
At least seven jawans of the Assam police and paramilitary forces died during the violent clash at Lailapur along the Assam Mizoram border on 26 July. Reports also said that more than 60 police personnel were injured in the incident.
