A report in the New York Times regarding Assam Mizoram border clashes has become a matter of discussion not only in India but also across the globe. And as the practice goes, in future it is highly likely that the NYT report will be accepted as gospel truth and dictate the future research on the subject.
But the fact is the New York Times report, ironically and surprisingly based wholly on wrong information, and a deeper look will point out that it came from wrong premises..
NYT says—“Boundary disputes between Mizoram and Assam are not new. The two sides have argued where exactly the line falls on a 193-square-mile strip of land since the 1980s, when Mizoram and three other Indian states were carved out of Assam, a sprawling state that borders Bhutan and Bangladesh.”
Fact is the boundary 164.6 kms to be exact-dispute remained there for more than 100 years. The first attempt for demarcation between the plains of Cachar district and Lushai Hills ( Mizoram) of Assam was done in 1875 by the British as per the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR) Act, 1873. It was later revised in1878 and Inner Line Permit. The Mizos accepted the demarcation as they claimed during the demarcation process the Mizo tribesmen (Chiefs) had not been consulted. Later, again boundary demarcation process was undertaken in 1933 to separate geographical areas based on cultures, languages etc. This demarcation the Mizos did not accept. But it was actually based on this demarcation that Lushai Hills became Union Territory in 1972.
And there were several border clashes along Assam-Mizoram in the past though this time it became serious.
In fact, it is a classic case of British created problem. While the Mizoram was made UT on the basis of 1933 demarcation which the Mizos reject, the Assam often tried to use the 1875 demarcation to settle their land claim. In fact in 1995 there were violent clashes between the two contesting parties as according to the Mizos Assam government tried to settle people inside Mizo territory.
The NYT also made error on something very basic.
It says : The states were created in accords drawn with the government of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in an attempt to broker a solution to years of rebel insurgency by groups seeking independence from India.
Second it is not in 1980s that Mizoram and other three states were ”carved out” of Assam… Mizoram became UT in 1972 .. Nagaland became state in 1963 Arunachal was UT in 1972 (Formerly known as North East Frontier Agency–NEFA).
Mizoram does have some disputes with Tripura also, not exactly a border dispute, but some parts of North Tripura ( Mizo inhabited) are claimed by them and there were also skirmishes and intrusion of Mizoram police inside Tripura.
Picture taken from India blooms
