Mega meeting in Assam - Mizoram border; "Vehicular traffic will be provided point to point escort," says DIG

Senior officers in Cachar and Kolashib administration held a marathon meeting at Forest Beat Office in Lailapur on Assam – Mizoram border. The meeting was attended by Kolashib SP, SDO Civil Viregente and other officials from Mizoram administration. From Assam, ADGP Law and Order, Mukesh Agarwal, Cachar DC Keerthi Jalli, SP Bhanwar Lal Meena, DIG Southern Range, Dilip Kumar Dey, and officials from the forest department were there.

After the meeting, DIG Dey said that the primary discussion was to normalise the vehicular traffic that has come to a standstill. As per reports hundreds of trucks are parked on Assam’s side of the border and the truck drivers are scared of driving to Mizoram. According to them, some of the drivers were attacked by the Mizo-miscreants camping on either side of the inter-state border. While this is what the truck drivers have told reporters in Assam, in Mizoram they have a different story.

The administration of Mizoram blamed Cachar and Karimganj administrations for the tension that prevails in the inter-state border. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Government of Mizoram, Cachar and Karimganj administrations have blocked the supply of essential commodities in Mizoram by stopping vehicles.

The DIG of Assam’s Southern Range, Dilip Kumar Dey said that the officers have managed to come to a solution. “The drivers are apprehensive and they said that they don’t want to travel through the border to Mizoram as they fear they will be attacked. However, the Mizoram Police assured that they will provide point to point escort and ensure safety to the drivers,” said Dilip Dey.

The DIG added, “After this assurance from Mizoram Police, we have explained it to the truck drivers and the vehicular traffic will restore soon.” He confirmed that the situation is under control at the interstate border and there are no reports of fresh violence.

ADGP Law and Order, Mukesh Agarwal, after the meeting, said the State government has discussed the matter with Central Government and at this stage the priority is to maintain peace and tranquility. About the land encroachment, Agarwal said that this is something that cannot be solved overnight. “Many agencies will get involved in the demarcation of land and this is a process that will take time.”