Assam-Mizo border war escalates, 6 cops killed
In a major flare-up of tension along the Mizoram-Assam border, at least six Assam Police officials were killed and 50 others, including an SP, were injured on Monday.
The two Chief Ministers blamed each other’s police for the violence and sought the Centre’s intervention. 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 along the disputed border and find an amicable settlement.
Assam’s Barak Valley districts of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi share a 164 km long border with Mizoram’s three districts of Aizawl, Kolasib and Mamit.
This is third time in less than two years that violence has erupted following the territorial dispute. The inter-State border dispute saw violence in August 2020 and February this year also. The Assam Chief Minister announced on Twitter that six personnel of the Assam Police were killed in firing by “miscreants” from Mizoram along the inter-State border in the Cachar district.
“I am deeply pained to inform that six brave jawans of @assampolice have sacrificed their lives while defending the constitutional boundary of our State at the Assam-Mizoram border. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families,” Sarma tweeted.
While the Assam CM put the blame on miscreants, Mizoram Home Minister Lalchamliana, in a statement, said Mizoram Police responded “spontaneously by firing back” at Assam Police after its 200 personnel forcibly crossed a duty post manned by the CRPF personnel and indulged in arson, assault on unarmed persons and firing.
A senior Assam Police officer, who is still inside the forest amid continuous firing from across the State border, told PTI that at least 50 personnel, including Cachar Superintendent of Police Nimbalkar Vaibhav Chandrakant, were injured in firing and stone-pelting.
The senior police officer said miscreants from across the State border suddenly started firing when civil officials of both sides were trying to sort out the differences. “I immediately cannot say how many people have been injured, but my guess is at least 50 personnel. Our SP was also injured in the firing and a bullet hit his leg,” he said over phone.
Both the CMs have assured Shah that they will do everything to ensure peace and resolve the border issue amicably.
Soon after, Mizoram Home Minister Lalchamliana said in his statement that following the intervention of Shah, the Assam Police have withdrawn from the place and the duty post have been handed back to CRPF personnel.
Earlier, Zoramthanga accused the Assam Police of resorting to lathi-charge and lobbing tear gas shells while Assam Police claimed that a large number of “miscreants” from Mizoram were indulging in stone pelting and had attacked the Assam government officials.
Mizoram Deputy Inspector-General of Police (Northern Range), Lalbiakthanga Khiangte, told PTI that at least eight unoccupied farm huts near Aitlang stream in the trouble-torn area were torched around 11.30 pm on Sunday. He said these belonged to farmers from Vairengte, the nearest border village from Assam.
Locals on the Assam side alleged that miscreants armed with sticks, rods and even rifles, attacked personnel of the Assam Police at Lailapur and damaged several vehicles, including those belonging to the office of the Deputy Commissioner.
Zoramthanga posted a video in his Twitter handle of a stand-off between Assam police personnel and a group of stick-wielding youths. “Shri @AmitShah ji kindly look into the matter. This needs to b stopped right now. #MizoramAssamBorderTension,” he said, tagging the Prime Minister’s office and Union Home Minister’s office, Sarm and officials of Assam’s Cachar district.
Zoramthanga also alleged in another tweet that “an innocent couple” on their way back to Mizoram via Cachar was “manhandled” by “thugs and goons”. “How are you going to justify these violent acts?” he asked.
The Assam Police countered the Mizoram chief minister’s allegations by saying that people from Mizoram attacked its personnel and indulged in stone-pelting on them.
“It’s unfortunate that a large number of miscreants from Mizoram are indulging in stone pelting and such forms of attack at Assam Government Officials, stationed at Lailapur to protect Assam’s land from encroachment,” it tweeted.
The Assam Police also said, “We strongly condemn these acts of vandalism and reiterate our resolve to protect Assam’s boundary.”
The Assam Chief Minister tweeted: “Honble @ZoramthangaCM ji , Kolasib ( Mizoram) SP is asking us to withdraw from our post until then their civilians won’t listen nor stop violence.
“How can we run government in such circumstances? Hope you will intervene at earliest @AmitShah @PMOIndia,” he tweeted along with a video of the situation.
Later, Sarma said he has spoken to his Mizoram counterpart and reiterated that Assam Police will maintain the status quo and peace along the border.
“I have just spoken to Hon’ble Chief Minister @ZoramthangaCM ji. I have reiterated that Assam will maintain status quo and peace between the borders of our state. I have expressed my willingness to visit Aizawl and discuss these issues if need be @AmitShah @PMOIndia,” he said.
However, Zoramthanga again tweeted: “Dear Himantaji, after cordial meeting of CMs by Hon’ble Shri @amitshah ji, surprisingly 2 companies of Assam Police with civilians lathi-charged & tear-gassed civilians at Vairengte Auto Rickshaw stand inside Mizoram today. They even overrun CRPF personnel /Mizoram Police,” he claimed.
The Mizoram Chief Minister also urged Sarma to instruct the Assam Police to withdraw from Vairengte for the safety of civilians. The BJP is currently in power in Assam, while the Mizo NationalFront (MNF), a constituent of the BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), is ruling in Mizoram.
Both the chief ministers had attended a meeting of all Chief Ministers of Northeastern states, chaired by Shah in Shillong on Saturday.
In his statement, the Mizoram home minister said around 200 personnel of the Assam Police led by an IGP and accompanied by the DC, SP and DFO Cachar came to Vairengte auto-rickshaw stand at around 11.30 AM on Monday and allegedly forcibly crossed the duty post manned by the CRPF personnel stationed there and over-ran a duty post manned by one section of Mizoram Police personnel.
The Assam Police also damaged several vehicles that were travelling along the National Highway between Vairengte and Lailapur, he claimed.
Upon learning of “the arson committed” by the Assam Police, residents of Vairengte town proceeded to the site to inquire and these unarmed civilians were assaulted by the Assam Police by lathi charging them and firing tear gas, thereby causing injuries to several civilians, the Mizoram home minister said.
He said the Superintendent of Kolasib and an Executive Magistrate went to meet them and try to resolve the issue. However, “the Assam side was adamant and unwilling to discuss the issue,” he alleged. Lalchamliana said the confrontation continued and a volley of tear gas canisters and grenades were launched at Mizoram Police followed by firing from the Assam side at around 4.50 PM.
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