The Assam-Mizoram border dispute took an ugly turn on Monday with at least 20 officials and civilians injured and vehicles damaged in clashes.

The chief ministers of both the state sought Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s urgent intervention.

Officials of both states, including Cachar Deputy Commissioner Keerthi Jalli and SP Nimbalkar Vaibhav Chandrakant, are camping at trouble-torn Lailapur area in Assam’s Cachar district, which borders Mizoram’s Kolasib, as they try to calm down the situation.

Assam officials claimed that a large number of people from Mizoram attacked them, injuring 16, six km inside the state.

Mizoram officials on the other hand claimed that people from Assam damaged a vehicle in which a Mizo couple was travelling to the state.

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Mizoram counterpart Zoramthanga, in a series of tweets, sought to blame each other’s officials for the situation.

The Mizoram CM, in his tweets where he tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Shah, said: “Dear Himantaji, after a cordial meeting of CMs by Hon’ble Shri Amit Shah ji, surprisingly two companies of Assam Police with civilians lathi-charged & tear-gassed civilians at Vairengte Auto Rickshaw stand inside Mizoram today (Monday). They even overran CRPF personnel and Mizoram Police.

“Hon’ble Himanta Biswa Sarma ji, as discussed I kindly urge that Assam Police be instructed to withdraw from Vairengte for the safety of civilians.”

Tagging videos of the border clashes, Zoramthanga said, “Shri Amit Shah ji. kindly look into the matter. This needs to be stopped right now.

In another tweet, he said: “Innoncent couple on their way back to Mizoram via Cachar manhandled and ransacked by thugs and goons. How are you going to justify these violent acts?”

Sarma, in his tweets, said : “I have just spoken to Hon’ble Chief Minister Zoramthanga 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.”

“Honble Zoramthanga ji, Kolasib 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.”

He also tagged Amit Shah and the PMO in his tweets.

Mizoram’s Aizawl, Kolasib and Mamit districts share borders with Assam’s Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi districts.

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