Assam-Mizoram border tension: ZPM youth wing seeks Centre's intervention

AIZAWL:

The youth wing of Mizoram's Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) on Tuesday, sought the intervention of the Union Home Ministry in the "volatile" situation at the state’s border with Assam, where a violent clash left several people injured.

In a release issued on Tuesday, the general secretary of ZPM youth wing, J Lal Ram Nghaka has condemned the Assam government for initiating an "Economic Blockade against Mizoram" and, asked the Centre to penalise the Government of Assam for this "incongruous act".

Meanwhile, reports stated that the two states are taking steps to provide escorts for the safe movement of stranded goods trucks along the inter-state border.

According to the ZPM, on October 9, the Assam Police and the Forest Department "feloniously committed arson by burning down houses of Mizo farmers and mercilessly destroyed their crops."

"With ongoing tensions and conversations due to this, instead of making amends, the Government of Assam initiated an Economic Blockade against Mizoram. How a State government would resort to such a roguish act is indeed an infringement to democracy," Nghaka said.

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"The ZPM Party Youth seek clarity on how long the Government of Assam is intending to harbour Bangladeshi refugees as vote banks and, we strongly request the Government of Assam to cease sheltering Bangladeshi immigrants, as they would, in all certainty, become thorns to the people of the Northeast at large."

The ZPM also requested the Assam government to take action against the District Administrators of Cachar District (Assam), who they accused "instigate and influence such disharmony to prevail."

A violent clash took place on Saturday night between the people of the two states on the border between the Kolasib district of Mizoram and Cachar district of Assam.

Following this incident, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday over the situation.

Sonowal informed the Prime Minister about his discussion with Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga and the steps taken by the Assam government to diffuse the tension at the border, they said.

During the telephonic conversation, Modi assured Sonowal to take appropriate steps to improve the situation at the inter-state border.