ASSAM: PROHIBITORY ORDERS CLAMPED IN ASSAM-MIZORAM BORDER AREA

The administration has clamped prohibitory orders under section 144, CrPc with immediate effect in certain pockets of Hailakandi district, bordering Mizoram, apprehending encroachment attempts from the other side. The prohibitory orders were imposed in Kachurthal and other areas under the Ramnathpur police station, bordering Kolasib district of Mizoram, after Hailakandi Deputy Commissioner Adil Khan and other officers visited the areas. The move followed "information from reliable sources that some individuals and organisations from the Mizoram side are planning to intrude into Assams territory with the intention to encroach forest land and erect permanent structures, including religious structures. Any encroachment attempt was not only illegal, but also likely to endanger human lives, and might lead to disturbance of public tranquility, leading to inter-state tension. While interacting with the people living along the border, Khan asked them to remain alert, so as to keep the miscreants at bay. Stating that the administration was keeping a close watch on the situation, Khan said he had apprised the top echelons of the administration about the issue. The deputy commissioner also spoke to his Kolasib counterpart, R Zarzosanga, over phone and informed him about the attempts made by some organisations from Mizoram to erect structures in the Kachurthal area in Assam's territory. Khan also invited him for discussions to sort out the issue which is related to the inter-state boundary dispute. He also wrote to Zarzosanga, requesting him to "ensure that no individual or organisation takes law into its hand and creates tension among the people of the two states." Assam and Mizoram have a long-standing boundary dispute.