The Mizoram government on Friday reaffirmed that the 1875 Cachar Inner Line remains its historical and legal boundary with Assam, reiterating a position it has maintained for decades.
Responding to a query raised by Opposition Congress MLA C. Ngunlianchunga in the Assembly, Home Minister K Sapdanga said the state continues to recognise the Cachar Inner Line, notified in 1875 under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, as its constitutional boundary with Assam.
Sapdanga stated that Mizoram has consistently upheld this stand since the 1950s, when it functioned as a district council under Assam. He added that all major political parties and civil society organisations in the state have supported this position over the years.
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Assam’s Position Differs
The minister noted that the Assam government relies on a different interpretation. According to him, Assam recognises the “Inner Line” of the erstwhile Lushai Hills district, as described in a notification issued on March 9, 1993.
As both states maintain separate claims, the boundary issue remains unresolved. Sapdanga said Mizoram has approached the Centre multiple times to seek intervention and facilitate dialogue. The two states have also conducted several rounds of discussions in recent years.
He clarified that the Council of Ministers meeting held on July 8, 2019, did not adopt a new position. Instead, it reaffirmed Mizoram’s long-standing stance on the 1875 Inner Line. He added that the Centre is already aware of the dispute and has taken steps toward resolution. Therefore, the state government did not issue a separate notice to the Union government.
Renewed Talks Under ZPM Government
After the Zoram People’s Movement assumed power in December 2023, the state government intensified engagement with Assam. On August 9, 2024, representatives from both states held a high-level meeting in Aizawl to discuss the core issues surrounding the boundary dispute.
Officials from Mizoram and Assam met again in Guwahati on April 25 last year. They focused on technical and administrative aspects of the dispute during official-level talks.
To promote peace at the grassroots level, the two states jointly organised a border cultural festival at Dholai in Assam’s Cachar district on November 25, 2025. Sapdanga said the initiative aimed to ease tensions, strengthen ties, and encourage cooperation among border residents.
Geographical and Historical Context
Three Mizoram districts — Aizawl, Kolasib, and Mamit — share a 164.6-km boundary with Assam’s Cachar, Sribhumi, and Hailakandi districts. The dispute largely stems from two colonial-era demarcations. One dates back to 1875 under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation. The other emerged from a 1933 boundary notification.
Mizoram bases its claim on the 1875 demarcation, while Assam refers to later administrative boundaries. This difference has led to recurring tensions over land ownership and jurisdiction.
Past Clashes and Ongoing Dialogue
The dispute has occasionally turned violent. A major clash near Vairengte village in Mizoram on July 26, 2021, resulted in the deaths of seven people, including six Assam Police personnel. The incident heightened tensions between the two neighbouring states.
Since August 2021, both governments have held four rounds of ministerial-level talks. Officials have also conducted several administrative meetings and virtual discussions to find common ground.
Despite persistent differences, leaders from both sides have expressed commitment to a peaceful resolution. Mizoram’s latest reaffirmation of the 1875 Cachar Inner Line underscores its firm position, even as dialogue continues.
The Centre’s role remains crucial in mediating the dispute and guiding negotiations. Until both states reach a mutually acceptable settlement, the decades-old border issue is likely to remain a sensitive political and administrative challenge in the Northeast.
