The Mizoram government on Monday vehemently condemned the alleged ‘unjustified act’ of its Assam counterpart for ‘intruding’ into Mizoram territories.
State home minister Lalchamliana in a statement on Monday said that around 200 Assam armed police led by IGP, Assam Police accompanied by Cachar district Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police (SP) and DFO came to Vairengte auto-rickshaw stand at around 11:30 AM on Monday.
The team forcibly crossed the duty post manned by CRPF personnel stationed there and overran a duty post manned by one section of Mizoram police personnel, he claimed.
He alleged that Assam Police also damaged several vehicles that were travelling along the National Highway between Vairengte and Lailapur in Assam.
Upon learning of the arson committed by Assam Police, residents of Vairengte town in Kolasib district proceeded to the site to inquire, the home minister said.
The unarmed civilians were assaulted by Assam Police by resorting to lathi charge and firing tear gas, thereby causing injuries to several civilians, he said.
He claimed that Kolasib SP and an executive magistrate went to the Assam team and tried to resolve the issue but the Assam side was adamant and unwilling to discuss the issue.
“The confrontation continued and a volley of tear gas canisters and grenades were launched at Mizoram Police followed by firing from Assam side at around 4:50 p.m. Mizoram police responded spontaneously by firing back at Assam Police in spite of the fact that Kolasib district SP was still inside CRPF duty camp negotiating with the Assam Police authorities,” he said.
Terming the incident unfortunate, Lalchamliana alleged that it was all started with Assam police aggression into the duty camps of CRPF and Mizoram police near Vairengte auto-rickshaw stand.
“The Government of Mizoram strongly condemns the unjustified act of the Government of Assam in this intrusion and aggression into the territory of Mizoram. The Government of Mizoram deeply regrets the needless injuries on both sides which could have been avoided and wishes a speedy recovery to all those injured,” he said.
The home minister also said that the Mizoram government desired that the inter-state border issue with Assam be resolved in an atmosphere of peace and understanding and called upon the Assam government to create a congenial environment for peaceful resolution of the dispute.
He said that Assam police later withdrew from the site and the duty post was handed back to CRPF following the intervention of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who spoke to the chief ministers of both states.