The governments of Mizoram and Assam today agreed to maintain status quo in the disputed border area of Kolasib-Hailakandi districts following a visit by officials of both the states and the Centre, a Mizoram official said.
"A spot verification was conducted today by officials of both the neighbouring states under the supervision of Ministry of Home Affairs Joint Secretary (North East) Satyendra Garg," Mizoram Additional Secretary for Home Lalbiakzama told PTI.
Lalbiakzama was among the officials who conducted the verification.
The border separating Hailkandi of Assam and Kolasib of Mizoram witnessed violence early this month when members of a Mizoram students' body, the Mizo Zirlai Pawl, tried to construct a rest house on NH 154. The Assam police had resorted to lathicharge, and several students and journalists were injured in the incident.
Lalbiakzama said a joint verification team would be set up comprising representatives of both states under the supervision of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The team would identify structures erected by both sides in the disputed area and demolish all illegal ones in April, he said.
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Officials from Mizoram were headed by Home Secretary Lalrinliana Fanai and the Assam officials were headed by the principal secretary for home.
Talks were held between chief secretaries of the two states in Delhi on March 20 to defuse the border tension. Another round of discussion would be held on April 5 under the aegis of the Union Home Secretary, the official said.
Official sources said the Centre also proposed to hold talks between the home ministers of the two states as also between the two chief ministers.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, in response to a letter from Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla, had initiated talks between the two states to defuse the tension.