Border jingoism

 On July 26,2021 five personnel of the Assam Police were killed when police forces of Assam and Mizoram exchanged fire in the border area between the two states. This was a tragedy that should not have happened even if it was waiting to happen. For all intents and purposes, the two police forces used their weapons against each other as if they were armed forces of two warring nations. The notable fact is that the July 26 incident bears resemblance to the other major incident that took place in 1985 between the police forces of Assam and Nagaland. Assam has border issues with Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya besides Mizoram and Nagaland. In all these disputes, Assam has been adopting a belligerent attitude against a small neighbor-be it Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya or Mizoram. Entry to all these states is through Assam where it has set up check posts. It may be coincidental, but after Himanta Biswa Sarma(a.k.a HBS) took over as chief minister of Assam, there has been a discernible mood of bellicose jingoism with regard to land disputes. Not long after taking over the reins of power in his state, HBS had made it clear that his government will not compromise on the state’s territorial integrity while directing his police to remain ever vigilant. Nagaland experienced the new ‘forward policy’ in May-end when a platoon of armed police personnel threatened villagers of Vikuto under Nagaland, destroyed areca trees and burned down huts. When there was no reaction, this led to another action when a hundred-member contingent of Home Guards and Assam Armed Police set up an outpost at Vikuto village area under Tzurangkong range in Mokokchung district. Unlike in 1985 there was no reaction from Nagaland Police and so Tzurangkong has been under an uneasy calm.The latest round of violence comes after union home minister Amit Shah asked all NE states( which are under NEDA, a BJP umbrella alliance) having border disputes, to resolve them through dialogue in a give and take manner. The Modi government hopes that all border issues be resolved before August 15,2022 on India’s 75th independence day. This message was reiterated by union home minister Amit Shah to all north east CMs, CSs and DGPs at Shillong on July 24. Assam as in the past, hardly bothered when it sent around 200 Assam armed police led by IGP, accompanied by DC, Cachar, SP, Cachar and DFO, Cachar to Vairengte Auto-rickshaw stand at around 11.30 am. According to the home minister Mizoram, the Assam contingent “forcibly crossed the duty post manned by CRPF personnel stationed there and overran a duty post manned by one section of Mizoram police personnel.” The show of strength was certainly not peaceful as it was a flag march. Such an aggressive action only sparked anger among the locals. Videos also expose those suspected immigrants with cover of Assam Police stone pelting at Mizoram police. Who fired first and why, will be known only if a level probe is ordered and monitored by the Supreme Court. Assam ’s actions on July 26, revealed the same modus operandi that led to the 1985 Merapani war. Such incidents have invariably led some people in Assam, to enforce economic blockades on other states. Hopefully, the two states will resolve the issue but Assam has to first de-escalate the situation.