Mizo forces stop GD Tripathi's convoy in Lailapur; tension mounts in Assam-Mizoram border

Commissioner & Secretary, Home Affairs, Government of Assam Gyanendra Tripathi (GD Tripathi) is in Barak Valley and he is scheduled to visit the Assam-Mizoram borders. Yesterday, he went to Lailapur, in Cachar’s Dholai constituency and today he is in Hailakandi, where a couple of abandoned houses were set ablaze by the miscreants. According to sources, his visit has been scheduled after taking the recent Mizo-aggression into consideration.

Yesterday, Tripathi was accompanied by DFO Cachar, Sunnydeo Choudhury, ADC Dipak Jidung, Sonai’s Circle Officer Sudip Nath, and other senior officials of the administration and forest departments.

The senior delegation from Assam first stopped at the Lailapur Beat office and then when they started moving towards the Assam – Mizoram border, the Mizo IR Battelion, Central Forces and Mizo locals stopped the convoy kilometres inside Assam’s territorial boundaries. The forces asked for permission. The officials of Assam Police and DFO Sunnydeo Choudhury counter-questioned, “Why should the delegation from Assam furnish pass or permission to inspect the inter-state border within the boundary of Assam?”

There was a heated argument between the two parties and the convoy was kept waiting for more than 30 minutes. A delegation from Mizoram’s side too reached the spot. Eventually, GD Tripathi, against the Mizo resistence rushed towards the border along with a convoy of around 20 vehicles and inspected the same. When reached out, Tripathi refused to comment as he is yet to finish the entire inspection.

There are several reports that the Mizos are encroaching into Assam’s territory in Lailapur. A few months back, Barak Bulleitn reported about an RCC construction in forest land. After the report was published DFO Sunnydeo Choudhury reached the spot and ordered to halt the illegal construction in the forest area. Even during yesterday’s visit, the delegation spotted many ongoing constructions within the territory of Assam.

The locals alleged that each time there is a rise in the number of Covid cases, the Mizos install several check gates within the territory of Assam and later claim that to be the border of the state. As a result, the locals who have been living as the resident of Assam for decades get dragged in a conflict.

If sources are to believed, GD Tripathi’s visit has been planned after a detailed discussion between the chief secretary Jishnu Baruah and Forest and Environment Minister, Parimal Suklabaidya.