Assam-Mizoram border dispute turns worse, 6 Assam police jawan killed in firing; Both CM spar on Twitter
Monday, 26 July 2021 (20:23 IST)
Guwahati: The inter state border dispute between Mizoram and Assam, has turned into a full scale war of words between two governments with each side alleging other of transgressing into their territory.
Both Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga sought Home Minister Amit Shah's intervention to solve the dispute.
Mr Shah was on a two-day visit to Meghalaya during the weekend where he held a closed-door meeting with chief ministers of the northeast states on inter state border issues.
Amid worsening situation two chief minister got involved in heated exchange of words in social media with Mizoram CM Zoramthanga on Twitter showed police trying to stop a clash among men armed with sticks.
In reply to the tweet, Assam Police said miscreants from Mizoram were indulging in stone-pelting and attacking Assam government officials stationed at Lailapur to protect Assam's land from encroachment.
It's unfortunate that large number of miscreants from Mizoram are indulging in stone pelting and such forms of attack at Assam Government Officials, stationed at Lailapur to protect Assam's land from encroachment.
In reply, Sarma shared a clipping and said a superintendent of police from Mizoram was asking Assam’s officials to withdraw from their post, failing which civilians from the neighbouring state would not stop the violence. He too sought immediate intervention of Shah and the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). “How can we run government in such circumstances?” Sarma wrote.
Honble ?@ZoramthangaCM? ji , Kolasib ( Mizoram) SP is asking us to withdraw from our post until then their civilians won't listen nor stop violence. How can we run government in such circumstances? Hope you will intervene at earliest ?@AmitShah? ?@PMOIndia? pic.twitter.com/72CWWiJGf3
Zoramthanga shared another video with which he wrote that an innocent couple were “manhandled and ransacked by thugs and goons” on their way back to Mizoram via Cachar in Assam. “How are you going to justify these violent acts?” he wrote.
Innoncent couple on their way back to Mizoram via Cachar manhandled and ransacked by thugs and goons.
During the meeting with Shah, Zoramthanga said border disputes in the northeast are a legacy of the colonial era and lasting peace between states is important for further development of the region.
6 Assam police killed in firing in Assam-Mizoram border standoff
The Assam-Mizoram border standoff on Monday took a bloody turn with six Assam police personnel were killed in firing by Mizoram police as both the state administration accused each other for instigating the violence.
Assam Chief Minister in the evening informed about the death of the six Assam police personnel in the firing in the trouble torn area between Assam-Mizoram border.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted, " I am deeply pained to inform that six brave jawans of Assam police have sacrificed their lives while defending constitutional boundary of our state at the Assam-Mizoram border.My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family."
According to reports, Superintendent of Cachar district along with 20 officials and civilians injured and vehicles damaged in clashes.
The chief ministers of both the state sought Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s urgent intervention to solve the dispute.
Meanwhile, Mizoram government has issued statement which stated that around 200 (two hundred) Assam armed Police led by IGP, Assam Police accompanied by DC, Cachar, SP, Cachar and DFO, Cachar came to Vairengte Auto-rickshaw stand at around 11:30 a.m. today i.e., 26.07.2021.
They forcibly crossed the duty post manned by CRPF personnel stationed there and overran a duty post manned by 1 (one) section of Mizoram police personnel. The Assam Police also damaged several vehicles that were travelling along the National Highway between Vairengte and Lailapur.
Upon learning of the arson committed by Assam Police, residents of Vairengte town, Kolasib District proceeded to the site to inquire. These unarmed civilians were assaulted by Assam Police by lathi charging them and firing tear gas, thereby causing injuries to several civilians, the statement said.
The confrontation continued and a volley of tear gas canisters and grenades were launched at Mizoram Police followed by firing from Assam side at around 4:50 p.m, the statement added. Mizoram Police responded spontaneously by firing back at Assam Police in spite of the fact that SP, Kolasib District was still inside CRPF duty camp negotiating with the Assam Police authorities, it further said. (UNI)
