Assam, Mizoram To Withdraw Their Troops; Neutral Central Forces To Be Deployed Along Disturbed Border

Central paramilitary troops will be deployed at the disputed border site till a permanent solution is found.

Locals near damaged security force vehicles after clashes last night on the Assam-Mizoram border at Lailapur in Cachar district.(Image:PTI)

New Delhi: Amid the ongoing border dispute, both Assam and Mizoram has agreed to withdraw their respective Police forces and a neutral central force will be deployed along the disturbed region where five policemen and a civilian were killed following a violent clash recently.

According to reports, Central paramilitary troops will be deployed at the disputed border site till a permanent solution is found.

Both the states came to an agreement after a two-hour long meeting chaired by Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla and attended by Assam Chief Secretary Jishnu Baruah and Director General of Police Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta and their respective Mizoram counterparts Lalnunmawia Chuaungo and SBK Singh.

A neutral Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) will be deployed at the disturbed interstate border along the National Highway 306, news agency PTI quoted Home Ministry official as saying. 

The neutral force will be commanded by a senior officer of the CAPF.

During the meeting, it was also decided that both Assam and Mizoram will work out arrangements in coordination with the Union Home Ministry in order to facilitate the functioning of the force in a reasonable time. 

Meanwhile, the Union Home Ministry has also asked both states to carry on with their discussions to mutually end the standoff in an amicable manner.

After the meeting, Mizoram chief secretary told reporters that the situation along the interstate border is currently peaceful and it was agreed in the meeting that everyone will try to maintain peace and there was no point in indulging in violence.

He also informed that state forces are being withdrawn from the disputed area. The Assam chief secretary said the CAPF will take over the responsibility of the inter-state border.

Earlier the Central government has expressed grave concern over the border dispute which led to violence and deaths of six people. The objective of the meeting is to lower the tension, bring peace and possibly find a solution.

The situation turned violent after five Assam Police personnel and a civilian were killed and over 50 others including a superintendent of police were injured when the Mizoram Police opened fire on a team of the Assam officials Monday.