Assam Government has accused the Mizoram government of breaching existing agreements and disturbing the status quo on the disputed land along the Mizoram-Assam border. This effectively quashes Mizoram Home Minister’s allegations on the same subject, where they had alleged Assam of aggression and intrusion.
In a press statement released on Monday, the Assam Government claimed that the road built by Mizoram towards Rengti Basti in Assam is destroying the Inner Line Reserve Forest in the Lailapur area. Besides, Mizoram has also set up a new armed camp on a hillock next to the camp of the neutral force, CRPF, in the same vicinity.
“In an attempt to diffuse the situation and resolve matters, a team of Assam officials including an IGP, DIG, DC Cachar, SP Cachar and DFO Cachar went to the area this morning to request the Mizoram side not to disturb the status quo. However, they were surrounded and attacked by a mob of miscreants from the Mizoram side, which was visibly supported by the Mizoram Police,” the press statements read.
The Assam Government also referred to the video footage which clearly shows a mob from the Mizo side displaying aggressive behaviour while brandishing weapons and wearing helmets. “While the mob pelted stones on the Assam officials and destroyed three vehicles including the DC’s car, the Mizoram Police simultaneously fired Tear Gas Shells on the delegation. The IGP was injured in this barrage,” added in the press statement.
Earlier in the afternoon hours yesterday, SP Kolasib along with two Additional SP level Officers held a discussion with the Assam delegation, during which they were requested to control the mob and not let them take the law in their hands and disturb the peace. The Mizoram officials went ostensibly to talk to the mob, but the SP Kolasib returned around 4:30 pm to state that he had no control over the mob, alleged the Assam Government.
Bizarrely, the Mizoram Police opened fire even while SP Kolasib was in talks with the Assam officers from two dominating high features with automatic weapons including LMGs. On the receiving end of this strike were Assam officials and civilians, who had by then gathered there, claimed Assam Government in its statement.
“It is with a heavy heart that we are constrained to note that what is being termed by the Mizoram side as an intrusion and aggression by Assam, has left 5 Assam Police personnel (SI Swapan Kr. Roy, Cn Liton Suklabaidya, Cn M.H. Barbhuyia, Cn N Hussain, Cn S Barbhuiya) confirmed dead (6 as per initial reports, which is being confirmed) and more than 50 injured, including SP Cachar, Vaibhav Nimbalkar who has a bullet embedded in his leg and is in the ICU,” the press statement reads.
The press release reiterated that the Assam Police and Officials have shown commendable restraint in the face of an unimaginably brutal offensive on them. It is backed by the fact that there are no casualties on the Mizoram side despite the huge number of miscreants attacking the Assam officials. The fact that there were a large number of civilians from Mizoram present in the area was taken into account by the Assam Police, which showed restraint even though the same people were attacking it.
Despite all differences, the Government of Assam has assured that it will maintain cordial relations and peace, and cooperate in maintaining neighbourly relations with Mizoram. Assam government has requested the State of Mizoram to restrain its people and Police personnel from resorting to unnecessary violence and instead commit them towards the restoration of peace.
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