From Bhupen Goswami
GUWAHATI : In Assam, two abandoned houses have been burnt down by miscreants reportedly from Mizoram. Police in Hillkandi district of southern Assam have stepped up vigil along the interstate border following alleged infiltration of miscreants from Mizoram. The incident took place on June 6 after armed men opened fire on an Assam MLA on the border with Nagaland. Halkandi Superintendent of Police Ramandeep Kaur said fresh infiltration has been reported from two places across the interstate border.
The Superintendent of Police told the media about the incident that two vacant houses were set on fire by miscreants near Assam-Mizoram border. Tension prevailed between the two states following the incident. Both the States are claiming that the fire incident took place in the area under their State. Assam has alleged that miscreants from Mizoram have carried out the incident. Mizoram Chief Minister Jormathanga has written to the Centre informing it about the Assam-Mijuram border incident and sought help. He said a third party is involved in the incident to maintain discrimination among the people of the border areas of Assam, Mizoram. He has demanded the Centre to fix the entire border problem in the North-East.
However, the neighbouring state of Mizoram says bangladeshi migrants have tried to take advantage of the border dispute by carrying out the incident. Talking to media, Superintendent of Police, Hailakandi district of Assam Ramandeep Kaur said, “The two vacant houses which have been burnt belong to Ali Hussain and Saidul Islam. Miscreants from Mizoram have also damaged an old structure here. The structure is located in gutguti area. The Superintendent of Police said that a case has been registered in the case and a search is on for the unidentified miscreants involved in the incident. Security has been beefed up in the area and police patrolling has also been stepped up.
The matter has also been taken up with the higher administrative authorities in Mizoram. It is expected that the matter will be resolved soon. According to police, the place where the incident took place is a reserve forest area and it is very difficult for Assam to reach there. However, Superintendent of Police, Kolasib district of Mizoram, Vanlafka Ralte claimed that the two houses which have been burnt are located in Jofai area of Barabi town of the district. The house was lying vacant since February this year. The Superintendent of Police said, “We suspect that the burning of houses was carried out by Bangladeshi migrants and they wanted to politically paint the border issue between the two states through it. The area where the incident has been carried out falls in the State of Mizoram and is not a forest area. A case has been registered at Barabi police station in the case and efforts are on to nab the accused.
