Jorhat, Nov. 12: Officials of five districts of Assam and Nagaland have agreed not to mix law and order and crime-related issues with that of border dispute.

“Several crime-related incidents are mixed with the border dispute issue, resulting in bad blood between the people of the two states. We should take necessary steps to resolve such issues amicably,” an official, who attended a border meeting of the five districts in Sivasagar yesterday, said today.

The deputy commissioners and superintendents of police of Sivasagar and Jorhat districts in Assam and Mokokchung, Mon and Longleng in Nagaland attended the meeting.

Officials from the Nagaland districts said people had to face immense problems because of frequent economic blockades by truckers from Assam. “The truckers frequently stop the trucks, alleging harassment by goons on the Mariani-Tuensang road. This is totally a law and order problem and we take steps when such incidents come to light. However, truckers from Assam relate these incidents to border dispute and stop plying of trucks. We have appealed to the Assam authorities to take necessary steps,” an Mokokchung official said.

The meeting, however, expressed confidence that regular cultural exchanges between the neighbouring states would help in cementing ties.

“We should also hold regular border-level meetings to sort out differences,” J.K. Lahkar, deputy commissioner, Sivasagar, said.

Officials from Mon and Longleng districts highlighted other incidents related to border dispute.

The Assam delegation promised to look into these matters and provide necessary information in the next such meeting scheduled to be held in Mon district.