Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today gave his official version of the Assam Mizoram border tension while addressing the media today.
CM Sarma claimed that for around 6 months, there have been ongoing attempts by civilians as well as security personnel from Mizoram to encroach into 5 sectors of the state. Sarma said that immediately after taking his oath (as chief minister), he had dialed up his Mizoram counterpart Zoramthanga and resolved to maintain amicable relations between the two states.
“I had suggested that we would take photographs with satellite and demarcate the status quo as per the pictures, Sarma said, adding that Zoramthanga had no objection to the matter. However, the Mizoram Chief Secretary refused to accept this arrangement, Sarma said. “Consequently, in many areas of Hailakandi, Cachar, and Karimganj, we saw aggression from Mizoram citizens,” Sarma said, adding that the Assam police were able to push back.
The CM said that on July 25th, the forest officials in Silchar had informed that people from Mizoram have begun construction of a road in the inner line forest in the state. Sarma said that a delegation of the district reached the location and noticed that an armed outpost was set up. In response, the Assam police urged the Kolasib SP to remove the said outpost.
In the events that followed, five Assam police personnel have succumbed to death while dozens of other are received treatments for injury.
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