Assam pursues Mizoram for 'meaningful dialogue' to ease border tension
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Guwahati/Aizawl: In a bid to build a conducive atmosphere for an amicable solution to the Mizoram-Assam border issue, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday night said that he will send two senior Ministers to Aizawl on August 5 for "a meaningful dialogue" with the Mizoram government.
The two states have also decided to withdraw most cases filed against each other, including those against Sarma, Mizoram Rajya Sabha member K. Vanlalvena and senior officials of the two states.
Sarma, in a tweet, said that "in aid of an early amicable resolution", Agriculture Minister Atul Bora and Urban Development Minister Ashok Singhal would go to Aizawl on Thursday to talk with the Mizoram Ministers and officials to defuse the border crisis, that intensified with the July 26 border clash and firing that left six Assam Police personnel dead and scores of others injured.
Noting that he learned his Mizoram counterpart Zoramthanga has asked Mizoram Police to withdraw the July 26 FIR against Assam officials, he said: "I heartily reciprocate this positive gesture and ask Assam police to withdraw cases against DC Kolasib and SDPO Virengte (sic)."
Before Sarma's tweet, Zoramthanga has announced the withdrawal of the FIR registered against the Assam Chief Minister and six other senior officials in connection with the July 26 violence.
Sarma earlier on Monday morning asked the police to withdraw an FIR against Vanlalvena which was lodged in the wake of the July 26 border row.
The Assam Police had issued summons to Vanlalvena and six Mizoram state officials for their alleged role in the violence and asked them to report before the investigating officers on August 1 and August 2.
In a series of tweets then, he said: "To take this goodwill gesture ahead, I have directed the Assam Police to withdraw the FIR against K. Vanlalvena, Hon'ble MP, Rajya Sabha from Mizoram.
"I have noted statements in the media by Hon'ble CM Zoramthanga wherein he has expressed his desire to settle the border dispute amicably. Assam always wants to keep the spirit of North East alive. We are also committed to ensuring peace along our borders."