A high-level probe conducted by the Mizoram police found no “fault” of the two Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) jawans in the recent incidents of violence at the state’s border with Tripura, amid allegations levelled by some Chakma groups.
The report also ruled out any involvement of Mizo organisations in the torching of an empty house near a Chakma dominated Kawnpui village in Tripura North district near the Mizoram border.
On April 21, Mizoram director-general of police (DGP) SBK Singh ordered a high level inquiry into the alleged assault of two IR personnel from Mizoram, who were guarding inter-state borders, to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus and the subsequent torching of a house near Kawnpui village.
Both the incident occurred on April 18 and 20 respectively.
The inquiry was conducted under the supervision of a deputy inspector-general (CID).
Mizoram deputy inspector general of police (Headquarters) John Neihlaia told Northeast Now that the high level inquiry report was submitted by the deputy inspector general and was referred to the home department recently.
The Young Chakma Association and Tripura Chakma Students’ Association had on April 29 written to Union home minister Amit Shah seeking his intervention in the April 18 incident, where clashes took place between IR personnel and Chakma villagers from Kawnpui village, and the subsequent burning of a house belonging to a Chakma resident at Kawnpui village.
The associations alleged that two IR personnel from Mizoram passed communal remarks to a Chakma lady, who fetched water for local volunteers, who were guarding the border and also attempted to rape the lady by following her till the village.
When the villagers protested, a clash took place after which the two Jawans went back to their post and filed complaint against three Chakma volunteers, the letter alleged.
The associations further accused Mizo organisations of burning a Chakma house on April 20.
Neihlaia said that the inquiry did not find any concrete evidence to substantiate the allegations against the two personnel and Mizo organizations.
He said when the IR personnel instructed local volunteers to stop playing cards and concentrate on their duty, one of them went to Kawnpui village and later came with villagers, who assaulted the two personnel.
“There was miscommunication between the two parties,” Neihlaia said quoting the report.
He also said that functionaries of Mizo associations were with the police at the time of torching of an empty house, which in fact was a kutcha house near Kawnpui.
He said that the government has not received any letter from the Union home Ministry seeking clarification on the allegations.