Vikrant Shekhawat : Jul 27, 2021, 06:22 AM
Guwahati/Aizawl. At least six Assam Police personnel were killed and 50 others, including a Superintendent of Police, were injured in the sudden escalation of the Assam-Mizoram border dispute. Both sides blamed each other's police for the violence and sought Centre's intervention. There has also been a public spat between the Chief Ministers of Assam and Mizoram regarding this matter. Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to the Chief Ministers of Assam and Mizoram, Himanta Biswa Sarma and Zoramthanga respectively and urged them to ensure peace and find an amicable solution along the disputed border.
The Barak Valley districts of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi in Assam share a 164-km-long border with the three districts of Mizoram, Aizawl, Kolasib and Mamit. Following a territorial dispute, clashes broke out along the inter-state border in August 2020 and February this year. The Assam Chief Minister announced on Twitter that six Assam Police personnel were killed in firing by "militants" from the Mizoram side along the inter-state border in Cachar district.Sarma tweeted, "I am deeply saddened to inform that six brave jawans of Assam Police have laid down their lives while protecting the constitutional boundary of our state on the Assam-Mizoram border. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.However, Mizoram Home Minister Lalchmalliana said in a statement that more than 200 policemen from Assam crossed the CRPF post and opened fire on unarmed people, prompting the Mizoram Police to retaliate.The miscreants opened fire suddenlyThe senior police officer said that the miscreants from across the border suddenly started firing when the civil officials of both the sides were holding talks to resolve the differences."I can't immediately say how many people were injured, but I estimate at least 50 personnel were injured," the officer said over the phone. Our SP was also injured in the firing and one bullet hit his leg.He was hiding inside the forest when the IPS officer was talking to PTI over phone and the sound of firing could be heard from behind.Later in the evening, Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to the Chief Ministers of Assam and Mizoram on the ongoing border dispute between the two states and asked them to ensure a peaceful resolution of the dispute. Sources gave this information.Instructions received to resolve border disputeSources said that during separate telephonic conversations with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga, Shah asked them to maintain peace along the inter-state border. The Home Minister asked the Chief Ministers to resolve the border dispute with mutual consent.Both the Chief Ministers have assured the Home Minister that necessary steps will be taken to ensure peace and resolve the border issue amicably.Soon after, Mizoram Home Minister Lalchmalliana in his statement said that after Shah's intervention, the Assam Police has moved out of the place and the duty post has been handed back to the CRPF personnel.
The Congress targeted the BJP over the violence on the Assam-Mizoram border.Congress said in a statement that it is a matter of great concern that on one hand the Chief Ministers of both the states were having open debates on Twitter, on the other hand tension was increasing."Yesterday (Sunday) the Home Minister chaired a meeting with Chief Ministers and Chief Secretaries of North Eastern states to discuss the issues of inter-state border dispute," the party asked. What happened between them? What policies were adopted to reduce border disputes?Both the ministers leveled allegations and counter allegations against each other.Earlier, the chief ministers of both the states on Monday leveled allegations against each other and blamed each other's police for the violence. Both urged the Center to intervene in the matter.Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Twitter that he has spoken to Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga and his police will maintain peace.Zoramthanga accused the Assam Police of lathi-charging and lobbing tear gas shells, while the Assam police claimed that a large number of "militants" from Mizoram pelted stones and attacked Assam government officials.Mizoram's Inspector General of Police (Northern Range) Lalbiakthanga Khiyangte told PTI that at least eight huts were torched at 11.30 pm on Sunday near the Aitlang river in the disputed area. He told that there was no one in these huts.He told that this hut belonged to the farmers of Vairengte, a border village near Assam.The locals of Assam alleged that the criminals were carrying sticks, sticks, iron rods and rifles and attacked the Assam Police personnel in Lalitpur and damaged several vehicles, including the vehicles of the Deputy Commissioner's office.Zoramthanga posted a video on his Twitter handle, in which a clash is taking place between Assam policemen and a group of youths carrying sticks.He visited the Prime Minister's Office, Union Home Minister's Office, Saram
The Barak Valley districts of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi in Assam share a 164-km-long border with the three districts of Mizoram, Aizawl, Kolasib and Mamit. Following a territorial dispute, clashes broke out along the inter-state border in August 2020 and February this year. The Assam Chief Minister announced on Twitter that six Assam Police personnel were killed in firing by "militants" from the Mizoram side along the inter-state border in Cachar district.Sarma tweeted, "I am deeply saddened to inform that six brave jawans of Assam Police have laid down their lives while protecting the constitutional boundary of our state on the Assam-Mizoram border. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.However, Mizoram Home Minister Lalchmalliana said in a statement that more than 200 policemen from Assam crossed the CRPF post and opened fire on unarmed people, prompting the Mizoram Police to retaliate.The miscreants opened fire suddenlyThe senior police officer said that the miscreants from across the border suddenly started firing when the civil officials of both the sides were holding talks to resolve the differences."I can't immediately say how many people were injured, but I estimate at least 50 personnel were injured," the officer said over the phone. Our SP was also injured in the firing and one bullet hit his leg.He was hiding inside the forest when the IPS officer was talking to PTI over phone and the sound of firing could be heard from behind.Later in the evening, Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to the Chief Ministers of Assam and Mizoram on the ongoing border dispute between the two states and asked them to ensure a peaceful resolution of the dispute. Sources gave this information.Instructions received to resolve border disputeSources said that during separate telephonic conversations with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga, Shah asked them to maintain peace along the inter-state border. The Home Minister asked the Chief Ministers to resolve the border dispute with mutual consent.Both the Chief Ministers have assured the Home Minister that necessary steps will be taken to ensure peace and resolve the border issue amicably.Soon after, Mizoram Home Minister Lalchmalliana in his statement said that after Shah's intervention, the Assam Police has moved out of the place and the duty post has been handed back to the CRPF personnel.
The Congress targeted the BJP over the violence on the Assam-Mizoram border.Congress said in a statement that it is a matter of great concern that on one hand the Chief Ministers of both the states were having open debates on Twitter, on the other hand tension was increasing."Yesterday (Sunday) the Home Minister chaired a meeting with Chief Ministers and Chief Secretaries of North Eastern states to discuss the issues of inter-state border dispute," the party asked. What happened between them? What policies were adopted to reduce border disputes?Both the ministers leveled allegations and counter allegations against each other.Earlier, the chief ministers of both the states on Monday leveled allegations against each other and blamed each other's police for the violence. Both urged the Center to intervene in the matter.Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Twitter that he has spoken to Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga and his police will maintain peace.Zoramthanga accused the Assam Police of lathi-charging and lobbing tear gas shells, while the Assam police claimed that a large number of "militants" from Mizoram pelted stones and attacked Assam government officials.Mizoram's Inspector General of Police (Northern Range) Lalbiakthanga Khiyangte told PTI that at least eight huts were torched at 11.30 pm on Sunday near the Aitlang river in the disputed area. He told that there was no one in these huts.He told that this hut belonged to the farmers of Vairengte, a border village near Assam.The locals of Assam alleged that the criminals were carrying sticks, sticks, iron rods and rifles and attacked the Assam Police personnel in Lalitpur and damaged several vehicles, including the vehicles of the Deputy Commissioner's office.Zoramthanga posted a video on his Twitter handle, in which a clash is taking place between Assam policemen and a group of youths carrying sticks.He visited the Prime Minister's Office, Union Home Minister's Office, Saram