Mizoram: ZPM party criticizes Assam officials for tough stand along border

Aizawl: The Youth Front of the Zoram People's Front (ZPF), the main opposition party in Mizoram, has lashed out at the administrations of Cachar and Karimganj in Assam, for their tough stands in the contentious bordering areas of Assam and Mizoram.

This comes a day after the DC of Cachar, Keerthi Jalli, stated that if the Mizoram forces at Saihapui V were not removed, the roads to Mizoram would be sealed off. Upon the DC of Cachar departing from Saihapui V at around 1:00 PM, all vehicles en route Mizoram via Lailapur and Hailakandi were promptly blocked.

Issuing a statement, ZPM Party Youth Front alleged that on October 9, 2020, the DC of Hailakandi, Ambamuthan MP, IAS, with his entourage, "mercilessly plundered and pillaged crops and farmhouses worth hundreds of thousands of rupees; which were, in fact, established under the central government’s flagship MNREGA programme – showing no regard or respect to the government of India, which he serves."

"Amid such tense situation, such ultimatum coming from the DC of Cachar, Keerthi Jalli, with regards to blocking the highways is cataclysmic and unfortunate, and we sincerely condemn these actions of her and her cohort Assam’s Addl. DG (Law & Order) GP Singh IPS," the political party's statement read.

The Mizo political party then proceeded to call "on the higher authorities to take full action against these officials." Tensions have continued to simmer along the Assam Mizoram border over the deployment of Mizoram troops along the border with Assam. Both states claim that the land where the troops are deployed. Meanwhile, insiders have informed Inside Northeast that the situation is likely to deescalate only after the Centre intervenes in the matter.

The Beginnings of the Border Conflict:

Recently, Mizoram allegedly 'entered' 2 and a half kilometres inside Assam’s Kullicherra, on the eastern part of Lailapur of Cachar district.

This didn’t go down well with the villagers of Assam as well as Assam police who uprooted such a barricade set up by them and pushed them back.

On Saturday, Tripathi reached Silchar and talked to the SP Kolasib on the middle of the “occupied road.”

On Tuesday, a meeting was convened at the Silchar DC’s conference hall along with three SPs and DCs of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi and a resolution was taken by the government of Assam wherein they resolved to hammer out a solution but on the condition that Mizoram would withdraw its troops.

On Wednesday, as scheduled, Home Secretary of Mizoram Pi Lalbiaksangi and IGP Law and Order reached from their side. The Assam team was composed of ADGP Mukesh Agarwal and Gyanendra Tripathi. The meeting commenced at 11 and continued for 4 hours.

At 3 pm, Assam and Mizoram officials left for Silchar for tripartite talks at Silchar’s circuit house as Union Joint Secretary (Home) and Incharge of Northeast, Satyendra Garg, reached Silchar.

After another three hours of the marathon meeting, it was decided that the Mizoram government would push back the security forces from Assam’s land and peace would be restored. Vehicles too would move without any hassles.

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