Benches placed in the middle of the road as illegal barricades

Officers from Assam walk past illegal barricades installed by Mizoram in the border areas; SSB deployment soon

By barakbulletin On November 6, 2020 - 9:17 am

Mizoram’s state boundaries are changing every day. At night, the Mizo-miscreants in their guise as activists and social workers with the support of Mizoram Indian Reserve encroach into Assam’s territory and claim it to be theirs. This has been going on since October 17, 2020.

Yesterday, Deputy Commissioner, Cachar, Keerthi Jalli, DIG Southern Range, Dilip Kumar Dey, IGP, Dipak Kedia, SP, Bhanwar Lal Meena, Divisional Forest Officer, Cachar forest division, Sunnydeo Choudhary, IFS, Chief Conservator of Forest Southern Assam Circle, Suman Mohapatra, IFS, Chief Conservator of Forest, Lower Assam Zone Akashdeep Baruah, IFS and other senior officials of civil and police administrations made the joint inspection of the border areas.

The delegation’s main purpose of the visit was to identify the locations where the central forces will set up their camps. Three companies of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) have been allotted to Assam and they will guard the bordering areas in Assam – Mizoram interstate borders. “Two companies of SSB will be deployed in Cachar’s Lailapur area and one in Karimganj’s Medlicherra,” informed DIG Southern Range, Dilip Kumar Dey.

It is worth mentioning here that the Sashastra Seema Bal is one of the Central Armed Police Forces under the administrative control of the Union Home Ministry, Government of India. It specialises in border patrol. It was earlier known as the Special Service Bureau.

DC Keerthi Jalli and other officers from the Cachar administration talking with forces deployed by Mizoram

Coming back to yesterday’s delegation, when it went for inspection, the officers spotted illegally installed barricades inside Assam’s territory. Those were manned by armed forces deployed by Mizoram. The officers from Assam made it clear that they won’t speak with the forces guarding the barricades and senior officers must report. That is when SP Kolasib and their DIG walked down to the barricade.

“They said that they won’t allow us to march ahead. However, we communicated it clearly that we are going to go up to Vairengte Gate which according to the Surveyor General Of India’s map is the border of Assam. They agreed to let us inspect the area but with some terms and conditions like only senior officers will be allowed,” informed the DIG of Southern Range, Assam Police.

This is not the first time the forces deployed by the Mizoram government have stopped Assam’s officers from patrolling areas inside the constitutional boundaries of Assam. Despite the repeated illegal obstructions, the Assam Police has exhibited restraint as the chief secretary of the state mentioned, “peace is paramount” for the state of Assam.

This was not the only confrontation yesterday. There is deployment in other areas too. The delegation was moving towards Khulicherra where an LP School operated by the Government of Assam was bombed allegedly by Mizo miscreants. “There we were firm and sent across a clear message to them that just by claiming some area is within their boundaries and installing blockades, they won’t be able to change the constitutional boundary of Assam which is sacrosanct,” said DIG Dilip Kumar Dey.

After inspection, the Cachar administration has identified two zones where the Assam Police will set up border outposts and SSB companies will be deployed. “In Lailapur, one company of SSB will be deployed a little ahead of the spot where houses and shops were burnt. Another company will be in Khulicherra where the school was bombed. We will hand over the Surveyor General of India’s map to the SSB and their task would be to guard area up to Vairengte Gate,” informed the DIG.

The team comprising of officers from the Forest, Police, and District Administration will visit Karimganj for an inspection today. In Karimganj’s side too, there is illegal deployment installed by the Mamit District Administration.

Three companies of Border Security Forces have been allocated by the center to the Government of Mizoram. How SSB will be deployed in Assam, BSF will guard the bordering areas in Mizoram’s side of the border. “These are central forces and they will follow the boundaries earmarked by Government of India,” informed DIG.

Chief secretary of Assam, Jishnu Baruah had said that after the deployment of Central forces, the situation will become peaceful again. If it turns out to be true, it remains to be seen. The central forces are likely to reach their camps in a day or two.