Assam government has decided to withdraw the police case against K Vanlalvena. Vanlalvena is a Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) from Mizoram. Signalling further easing of tension following Union home minister Amit Shah’s intervention to get the two states to find an amicable resolution to their border dispute which led to clashes resulting in the loss of six lives on July 26.
The chief ministers of Assam and Mizoram have decided to defuse tension along the border and settle the border dispute through talks. Mizoram also investigates Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in a case related to the clashes. Sharma took to his Twitter account and wrote, “I have noted statements… CM Zoramthanga wherein he has expressed his desire to settle the border dispute amicably. Assam always wants to keep the spirit of North East alive. We are also committed to ensuring peace along our borders,”
“To take this goodwill gesture ahead, I have directed Assam Police to withdraw FIR against K Vanlalvena, Hon’ble MP, Rajya Sabha, from Mizoram. However, cases against other accused officers will be pursued,”
The case was filed against Vanlalvena after he told: “all will be killed”. in a TV interview that if Assam policemen enter Mizoram again. Sources said that a special team visited his residence in Delhi and directed him to appear at the Dholai police station in Cachar district of Assam to record his statement.
Mizoram police have also registered filed an FIR against Assam CM Sarma and six Assam officials in Kolasib district under various charges including those related to an attempt to murder and criminal conspiracy.
On Sunday, Kolasib superintendent of police Vanlalfaka Ralte said the police will not proceed with the case against Sarma. Ralte said, “The case is not withdrawn, but we are not going to investigate the matter against Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma in order to have a peaceful atmosphere,”
The Assam Police has also issued summons to six officials of the Mizoram government, including the deputy commissioner and superintendent of police of Kolasib district for charges that include murder, criminal trespass etc. Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga urged the people of his state to “avoid posting sensitive messages” on social media, as his Assam counterpart, Himanta Biswa Sarma, spoke of keeping “the spirit of the North-east alive” and having another round of discussions with his Mizoram counterpart.
“Border disputes can only be resolved through discussion,” he said, a day after seeking a probe into the clashes by a “neutral agency”.
The situation on the ground, however, remained tense, with Mizoram alleging that Assam was imposing a blockade in the Barak Valley region, and blocking medical supplies.
Assam’s Barak Valley districts of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi share a 164.6 km-long border with Mizoram’s Aizawl, Kolasib and Mamit districts. Mizoram was a part of Assam till 1972 when it became a Union Territory. It became a state in 1987. The territorial dispute has festered since then and fuelled sporadic clashes including in August 2020 and February 2021.
Discussion about this post