• Border conflicts have happened intermittently since Mizoram was carved out of Assam as a Union Territory in 1972 (got statehood in 1987).
  • Several rounds of talks between the two States since 1995 failed to resolve the border issue.
  • Assam claims Mizos have been squatting in areas 1-3 km from the interstate border.
  • Mizoram says Assam has been pushing its people 10-12 km inside their territory.
  • Mizoram’s official stand is that the boundary should be demarcated on the basis of notification in 1875 that distinguished the Lushai Hills (erstwhile district of Assam that became Mizoram) from the plains of Cachar.
  • The notification is based on the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act, 1873, which makes it obligatory for Indians beyond to possess a travel document to enter Mizoram.
  • The point of conflict is another British-era notification of 1933 that Assam follows but is not acceptable to Mizoram, which says their ancestors were not consulted on this.
  • Assam also has border disputes with Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Nagaland.