Govts are withdrawing FIRs against ministers, officers while locals on both sides continue to suffer due to blockade

By barakbulletin On August 3, 2021 - 10:24 pm

From demanding NIA investigation to withdrawing FIRs, the political class of both Assam and Mizoram has moved leaps and bounds towards bridging the gap between Assam and Mizoram. On July 26, 2021, six Assam Police soldiers were killed and 43 were hospitalised after they incurred bullet injuries. MLAs of Cachar motivated the public to host an economic blockade to “starve the Mizos” who killed Assam’s soldiers. The public reciprocated and railway tracks have been uprooted in Hailakandi and vehicular traffic to Mizoram through Silchar remains completely suspended.

On July 27, Kaushik Rai, MLA of Lakhipur and former president of Cachar BJP streamed a speech live from his own Facebook profile. He said, “No matter what Police say, no matter what the Government says, we will take revenge, we will not withdraw the economic blockade. My appeal to all of you is that we shall, under any circumstances continue this blockade. If needed, we the elected representatives shall also join you. At a personal level, I wholeheartedly support this blockade,” said Rai.

Kaushik Rai is one of the most popular political leaders in Barak Valley and is considered to be amidst the close ones of Himanta Biswa Sarma. Since July 26, he has visited the border many times with the Guardian Minister of Cachar, Ashok Singhal. He interacted with the locals and even collected bullets from their homes which were allegedly fired by the Mizo forces and militants.

During the live stream, Kaushik Rai added, “Their MP (K. Vanlalvena) is threatening that they shall kill us all. It is our time to respond but not in his language. We shall remind the Mizos that if we block their supply of essential commodities, gas, oil, they will starve to death. The only way for us to pay tribute to the six martyrs of Assam Police is by ensuring that the economic blockade is a success. We are with you in this fight, if needed we will join you in the economic blockade.”

While the public wholeheartedly responded to the popular leader’s call for revenge, they feel betrayed as the Assam Police has withdrawn the FIR against Rajya MP K. Vanlalvena. “If any normal citizen would have said that he or she will kill all the Policemen on duty, the person would be jailed for the speech under several sections. His threat was open and on national television. Yet the Assam government has withdrawn the FIR. Now how is this a respect to the emotions of the general public or the family members of the martyrs,” said a local resident of Lailapur area.

There are hundreds of shops between Lailapur and Dholai, most of them survive on the spends of truck drivers driving to Mizoram. Since, July 26, not a single truck has passed through that road. “We have stopped preparing rice, dal and pulao. There aren’t any takers,” said the owner of a food stall. While there aren’t many trucks parked near the road as they have been scattered, but about 30 – 40 are still stationed. Barak Bulletin’s correspondent spoke to a truck driver carrying Maruti cars from Delhi to Mizoram. He is a Bengali boy, cooking under the car and living in his vehicle. “Money is getting over and we are running out of patience. No clue what to do. We are going to the local market to get vegetables and somehow surviving,” said the truck driver.

Another one said that his handyman has left and now he has no option but to wait as his truck is loaded with tonnes of rice. “Nobody stopped us here, but unless the Police assures us that the road is safe to travel, we won’t cross the Dholai gate. It is a nightmare for us but if they can kill six Police personnel, they can kill us too,” said the driver from Bramhaputra Valley.

On the other side of the interstate border, the locals of Vairengte and most of the Mizoram are counting the days they can survive with the stock they have. Village level task forces have been formed and they are urging the locals to depend organic produces. Pumpkins, potatoes, bamboo shoots are bought from the market while grocery stores saving the stock. The task forces are also keeping an eye on inflation as the rich have resorted to hoarding.

The magistrate on duty, Major Carolyne Z. Pachuau (DSW&RO) informed that only two Assam Rifles’ trucks passed through to the Mizoram since July 26. “More than 300-400 trucks loaded with essential commodities ply to Mizoram every day and then there are goods trains coming in too. All of that has been disrupted by the economic blockade orchestrated by the government of Assam,” said Major Carolyne. “Crisis broke at the bordering areas and not only borders but even in the heartland. National Highway 306 is the main lifeline of Mizoram and our humble and sincere request to withdraw the blockade. We all know that the people on both sides of the borders are friends,” she added.

Ashok Singhal and Minister in Himanta Biswa Sarma’s cabinet, Atul Bora are scheduled to attend a meeting in Aizawl on August 5 and the locals of both sides have their eyes set on that meeting with hopes for a solution.Ministers are withdrawing FIRs as “goodwill gesture” but locals on both sides are suffering due to the blockade

From demanding NIA investigation to withdrawing FIRs, the political class have moved leaps and bounds towards bridging the gap between Assam and Mizoram. On July 26, 2021, six Assam Police soldiers were killed and 43 got injured. MLAs of Cachar motivated the public to host an economic blockade to “starve the Mizos” who killed Assam’s soldiers. The public reciprocated and railway tracks have been uprooted in Hailakandi and vehicular traffic to Mizoram through Silchar was completely blocked.

On the other side of the interstate border, the locals of Vairengte and most of the Mizoram are counting the days they can survive with the stock they have. Village level task forces have been formed and they are urging the locals to depend on organic produces. Pumpkins, potatoes, bamboo shoots are bought from the market while grocery stores saving the stock. The task forces are also keeping an eye on inflation as the rich have resorted to hoarding.

It is worth mentioning here that there is no presence of the picketers on either side of the border. Yet, the ghost of economic blockade continues to haunt both sides. Ashok Singhal and Minister in Himanta Biswa Sarma’s cabinet, Atul Bora are scheduled to attend a meeting in Aizawl on August 5 and the locals of both sides have their eyes set on that meeting with hopes for a solution.