The situation is now under control in the area, which is on the border between the Kolasib district of Mizoram and the Cachar district of Assam, they said.
A meeting, chaired by the Union’s Interior Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla, will be held on Monday between the two states to assess the situation, Mizoram Interior Minister Lalchamliana said.
The chief secretaries of the two states will be present at the meeting, he said.
Assam’s Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said he has briefed the Prime Minister’s Office and the Union Ministry of the Interior on the situation in the area.
Sonowal also phoned Mizoram Zoramthanga’s chief minister and spoke with him about the border incident, emphasizing the need for productive measures and joint efforts to address border problems.
Zoramthanga assured Sonowal of efforts to maintain peace on the interstate border and cooperation, the Assam government said in a statement.
The two states have deployed security personnel, including those from the Indian Reserve Battalion, to areas affected by the violence near the village of Vairengte in Mizoram and Lailapur in Assam, authorities said.
Vairengte, in Kolasib district, is located on the northern strip of Mizoram through which National Highway 306 (formerly 54) passes, which links the state with Assam. The closest town in Assam is Lailapur, which is located in the Cachar district.
Kolasib District Deputy Commissioner H Lalthlangliana told PTI that a large number of Vairengte residents gathered when some Assamians, armed with sticks and dao, threw stones at a group near the auto-rickshaw stand in the outside the border village on Saturday night.
The angry mob from Vairengte retaliated and set fire to some 20 temporary bamboo huts and stalls built along the national highway by Lailapur residents despite a ban order in place, he said.
One of the injured, who suffered a cut to the neck, was admitted to Kolasib District Hospital and his condition was critical. Three people were being treated at a Public Health Center (PHC) in Vairengte, he said.
“Despite the prohibition order under Section 144 of the CrPC and the policemen doing their best, the situation turned violent and got out of control when people gathered in large numbers,” he said.
The incident could be the result of the demolition of a makeshift hut used by local volunteers guarding the interstate border near the village of Saihaipui ‘V’, about 3 km from Vairengte, he said.
Volunteers are guarding the border to monitor the movement of people in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lalthlangliana said that no one was killed in the clash and that a person from Assam was admitted to Silchar Medical College and Hospital.
He said he has spoken with Cachar Deputy Commissioner Keerthi Jalli about the violence and has asked him to take steps to ensure that the national highway, which has been blocked by the local population, is cleared as soon as possible.
The Assam government also said the situation is under control and senior officials along with the police are in the area to defuse tension.
The state forest minister, Parimal Shuklabaidya, who is the Dholai MLA in Cachar, told PTI that such incidents occur in the area every year when people on both sides illegally cut trees.
Suklabaidya visited Lailapur during the day and interacted with people.
The incident was the work of criminals to create unrest in the community, according to a statement issued by the Assam government.
Assuring people living near the border safety and security, Suklabaidya said he would put his demands for police posts and other security-related matters to higher authorities.
“The government is with all of you and will take the necessary measures,” he told the locals.
Jalli, the deputy commissioner for Cachar, also visited the area along the interstate border.
He assured the locals that the administration would provide them with security to protect themselves from “evil machinations at work” to create unrest between the people of the two states.
Commissioner (Start) Gyanendra Tripathi ensured protection for the local population and urged them to live in harmony with the people of Mizoram.
Assam’s DIG Southern Range Dilip Kumar Dey, Additional Deputy Commissioner Rajib Roy, and Sonai Sudeep Nath’s circle officer were also in the area.
“We received reports about the burning of some houses and temporary posts. The police arrived at the scene and controlled the situation. We are taking all possible measures to ensure that these incidents are not repeated in the near future,” said Cachar’s police superintendent , Bhanwar Lal Meena. He said.
Security has been tightened in Lailapur and along the interstate border, the Assam government said in the statement.
However, former Congressional MP Silchar Sushmita Dev previously told PTI that she visited the troubled area but found no officials there.
Lalthangliana said that the Kolasib district administration is sheltering truckers, mainly from Assam, in Kolasib town and Kawnpui village and volunteers from the Mizo Youth Association (YMA) provided them with food.
Mizoram’s MNF MLA, Lalrintluanga Sailo, who is camping in Vairengte, said his state is not hostile to Assam or its people, but is protecting its territory from infiltration by illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, who live in the border areas.
He claimed that more than 80 percent of the people living along the Assam-Mizoram border are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.
Sailo alleged that the border dispute is a ploy by some vested politicians to seize in light of the Assam elections, which are likely to be held early next year.
At least 11 MLA members from the ruling MNF party, including Vice President Lalrinawma, are currently camping in Vairengte.
Mizoram’s prime minister also held a cabinet meeting on the border dispute during the day.
“I sincerely request everyone to keep the peace and kindly not to circumvent any administrative procedures,” he tweeted.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Interior Minister Lalchamliana said the Mizoram government has urged Assam to make efforts to ease tension and restore peace and tranquility in the border area.
He alleged that Assam recently created problems at three border points: Thinghlun in Mamit district and Saihapui ‘V’ and Vairengte, both in Kolasib.
“We have approached the Center about the border dispute. Consequently, the Secretary of the Interior of the Union, Ajay Bhalla, will hold a virtual meeting with the top secretaries of the two states on Monday to defuse the prevailing border confrontation,” he said.
At least seven people from Mizoram were injured in the clash that took place late Saturday, he said.
He said the state government sent reinforcements to the border area to stabilize the situation.
Claiming that a 509-square-mile stretch of the inner line reserve forest reported in 1875 was Mizoram’s actual boundary with Assam, the state’s interior minister said: “We are not trying to invade Assam’s territory, but we protect faithfully our land at all. cost. “
According to Lalchamliana, Mizoram is likely to face a shortage of basic goods, especially cooking gas and fuel, due to the indefinite blockade of Lailapur residents on the national highway, which is the livelihood of the state.
He urged people, especially traders, not to stockpile commodities and raise their prices.
In addition, he asked the civil organizations not to act by themselves and violate law and order.
Mizoram Chief Secretary Lalnunmawia Chuaungo said the state government has consented to the formation of a boundary commission and has officially hinted at the matter to the Center.
He said that the central committee constituted by the state government in relation to state boundaries is studying and evaluating old maps and documents.
The two states often disagree over the border, which they dispute.
Recently, a clash broke out near the village of Thinghlun in Mizoram’s Mamit district, on Assam’s Karimganj border, when Assam officials allegedly demolished a farm hut erected on the disputed land.
Mizoram shares a 164.6 km border with Assam.
Various dialogues since 1995 to resolve the border dispute have yielded little results.
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