The Mizoram government has constituted a boundary commission to consider various issues related to the state border with neighbouring Assam.
The boundary commission formation came at a time when Mizoram and Assam are at loggerheads over the inter-state boundary.
The Mizoram government notification issued on Thursday said the boundary commission will be headed by deputy chief minister Tawnluia as chairman and home minister Lalchamliana as vice-chairman.
The state home department secretary was made member secretary of the commission.
The commission will consider the various issues relating to the Mizoram-Assam border, the notification said.
The commission will also have one each member from leading NGOs, recognised political parties, Joint Action Committee on Inner Line Reserve Forest Demand apart from three ministers, chief secretary, additional chief secretary and Director General of Police (DGP), it said.
Prominent citizen and former Lok Sabha member CL Ruala and former state home secretary Lalbiakzama were also appointed as members of the commission.
Meanwhile, the situation at Aitlang hnar and Buarchep areas in Kolasib district along the Mizoram-Assam border is still tense, a senior police officer said on Friday.
Mizoram deputy inspector general of police (northern range) Lalbiakthanga Khiangte said both the states’ forces are now camping at the border areas face to face and a serious confrontation could take place at any time if any of the parties try to make new activities.
He said there was no further advancement from Assam after the standoff on July 10.
He said people living along the inter-state borders on the Mizoram side are now living a normal life and none of them has escaped from their villages due to fear.
The Mizoram-Assam border issue is likely to be discussed during a meeting of chief ministers, chief secretaries and DGPs of all northeastern states to be presided over by Union home minister Amit Shah in Shillong on Saturday, according to Khiangte.
Three Mizoram’s districts – Aizawl, Kolasib and Mamit – share about 164.6 km long inter-state border with Assam’s Cachar, Hailakandi and Karimganj district.
Tension along the inter-state border has flared up in June-end when Assam police allegedly seized Aitlang hnar about 5 km from the nearest border village Vairengte in Mizoram accusing the neighbouring state of encroaching on its territory.
Both the states have been accused of encroachment on each other lands.
Several crops and betel nut trees belonging to a Mizo farmer were allegedly destroyed during the claimed “eviction” by Assam police and officials at Buarchep near Phainuam village on July 10.
A grenade was allegedly hurled on an Assam government team visiting the border by suspected miscreants from Mizoram on July 10.
However, the allegation was denied by Mizoram claiming it was bursting of earthmover’s tyre.
Both the states have also been blaming each other on two back-to-back explosions heard across the border in the wee hours on July 11.
The chief secretary-level meeting held in New Delhi on July 9 had ended inconclusively.