From Sandeep Sharma
GUWAHATI: Two days after Union home minister Amit Shah addressed a meeting with the chief ministers of northeastern states on border dispute, six police personnel were killed in a clash with Mizoram Police at Lailapur area of Cachar district along Assam-Mizoram border on Monday.
“Six Assam Police personnel killed in firing by miscreants from Mizoram along the inter-state border in Cachar district,” Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Twitter after clashes erupted between security officials and locals from the neighbouring state.
At least 65 personnel, including Cachar deputy commissioner Keerthi Jalli, superintendent of police Nimbalkar Vaibhav Chandrakant, and officer-in-charge of Dholai police station sustained bullet injuries in the incident.
All the injured police personnel including the Cachar SP and Dholai OC have been shifted to Silchar Medical College Hospital (SMCH) for treatment.
As per available information, Cachar deputy commissioner Keerthi Jalli’s convoy was attacked by the Mizo miscreants earlier on Monday. Mizo miscreants fired at her convoy leaving 20 people injured in the incident.
The deputy commissioner along with superintendent of police Vaibhav Chandrakant Nimbalkar, DIG Southern Range Zone Devajyoti Mukherjee and other senior officials were the Mizo battalions and armed civilians to retreat as they have encroached more than three kilometres within Assam.
This has led to a clash between the two parties and the Mizo forces started firing on state police force and vandalised cars.
The clash broke out near an auto stand situated between Lailapur and Vairangtee.
“I am deeply pained to inform you 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,” chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said in a tweet.
Earlier on Saturday, Union home minister Amit Shah had asked the chief ministers of both the states to find a solution to the border dispute.
Both Assam and Mizoram had agreed to resolve the issue and maintain peace.
The situation along the Mizoram-Assam border has been on the boil since June-end when Assam Police allegedly took control over an area known as ‘Aitlanghnar’ about 5 km from Vairengte, accusing Mizoram of encroaching on its territory.
Since then there have been repeated clashes between the two states around the disputed area. Interestingly, both the chief ministers have also engaged in a Twitter faceoff and petitioned Amit Shah against each other.
Locals on the Assam side alleged that miscreants in hundreds, 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.
“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,” the Assam Police had tweeted earlier in the day.
“We strongly condemn these acts of vandalism and reiterate our resolve to protect Assam’s boundary,” it added.
Amid reports of flare-up, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had tweeted that he spoke to his Mizoram counterpart and expressed willingness to resolve the tensions.
“I’ve just spoken to Mizoram CM Zoramthanga ji. I have reiterated that Assam will maintain the 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, Sarma said in another tweet.
The chief minister had earlier said that the situation along the interstate border with Mizoram is currently “fragile” and it will take some time to resolve the disputes with the neighbouring state.
On his part, Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga urged that Assam Police be instructed to withdraw from Vairengte for the safety of civilians.
“Hon’ble @himantabiswa ji, as discussed I kindly urge that Assam Police @assampolice be instructed to withdraw from Vairengte for the safety of civilians,” Zoramthanga tweeted.
Zoramthanga had raised the border issue during the meeting of northeast chief ministers, chaired by Union home minister Amit Shah last Saturday.
He had said that the border disputes between the states of the northeast region are a legacy of the colonial era which the present government inherited from its predecessor.
He had suggested that the status-quo may be maintained as of May 10, 2021, as suggested by the Assam chief minister in his telephonic discussion of June 29 with him.
Both the chief ministers have had heated arguments on Twitter over the issue, at times sharing videos to prove their points.
On July 10, several crops and betel nut trees belonging to a Mizoram farmer were also reportedly damaged during the “eviction drive” at Buarchep near Phainuam village.
On the same day, a grenade was allegedly hurled on an Assam government team visiting the border by unknown people.
Both the states have been blaming each other for two back-to-back explosions across the border in the early hours of July 11.
