Mizoram demands central govt intervention to lift blockade by Assam

Requesting Centre to intervene in the border dispute with Assam, Mizoram government Wednesday said miscreants from Assam have removed railway tracks and blocked National Highway (NH) 306 disrupting transportation to the state.

In his message, home secretary Pu Lalnunmawia Chuaungo requested the Centre to take necessary action for the immediate removal of the blockade to ensure resumption of the movement of goods and passengers to Mizoram.

“Unknown miscreants from Assam have destroyed/removed railway tracks at Mohammedpur Railway Station and Ramnathpur Railway Station in Hailakandi district in Assam. With this, the only railway line connecting Bairabi Railway Station in Mizoram has been blocked,” said Lalbiaksangi, adding Silchar-Aizawl stretch of NH-306 has also been blocked at Kabuganj in the Barak Valley by people on the Assam side.

He said no state agency or entity or the general public has any right to block national highways and railway lines, restricting the movement of people and goods.

“It is requested that the government of India may intervene and instruct the Govt of Assam to take necessary action for the immediate removal of the blockade so as to ensure resumption of the movement of goods and passengers along the National Highway and Railway line,” he added.

Meanwhile, Assam police on Wednesday announced a reward of Rs 500,000 for information on those individuals who were involved in the killing of six police personnel on 26 July, said GP Singh, Special Director General of Police (DGP), Assam Police.

Amid border dispute between Assam and Mizoram, six jawans of Assam Police have lost their lives while defending the constitutional boundary of state at the Assam-Mizoram border on 26 July, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday said.

“Assam police also announces a reward of Rs 5 lakh for information leading to arrest of each of the individuals involved in the barbaric killing of the Assam Police personnel on July 26th 2021,” he wrote on his Twitter handle.

Singh also informed that a team of state police including CID officers are leaving for Delhi to take lawful action relating to the conspiracy behind the incident in light of the media interview of Rajya Sabha MP K Vanlalvena indicative of his active role in the conspiracy.

The Special DGP informed that a case was registered relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code in Dholai police station on Tuesday in connection with the killing of police personnel.

“The incident took place at Inner Line Reserve Forest area of Cachar district, Assam along National Highway 306, around 1.7 kms southwards from Lailapur PP,” said the senior police officer.

“Assam Police has prepared a picture gallery which is being further updated of Mizoram Police personnel and civilian miscreants who fired at Assam police on 26 July. They would be brought to law,” he added.

Speaking on the issue of border clash, Mizoram Inspector General of Police (IGP) John Neihlaia said, “There was no intention to kill anyone. But we had to retaliate as it is our stand that we would not open fire first. When they wanted to surrender, we gave them the opportunity to escape unhurt, otherwise, many more could have died.”

A total of six companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have been deployed at the site where the policemen died.