Himanta accuses Mizoram CM of lack of action against border violence

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has accused his Mizoram counterpart Zoramthanga of lack of action against Monday's violence which claimed the lives of five Assam police personnel and left 42 others injured.

Guwahati: Squarely blaming his Mizoram counterpart, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said that the Assam government has been following the Centre's instruction regarding the border conflict with the neighbouring state, which left five Assam police personnel dead and 42 others injured at Lailapur on Monday. The statement comes during a press conference at Silchar where Sarma indicated that there was no effort to stop the violence on the part of the Mizoram government despite his repeated requests to Chief Minister Zoramthanga.

"As the firing continued, I spoke to Mizoram Chief Minister six times and offered to come to Aizawl to settle the issue. The Union Home Minister also spoke to both of us at least two times but the violence continued from Mizoram side," said the Assam Chief Minister on Tuesday.

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"As we spoke, the Mizoram Chief Minister continued to repeat 'I am sorry'. As per the Central government's instruction, we have removed our forces from the disputed area but Mizoram is yet to remove its forces from the area. I hope the Mizoram Chief Minister will someday repent firing on Assam police using Light Machine Guns (LMGs)," he said adding that the use of LMGs is seen during the war-like situation in case of foreign aggression.

"The incident on Monday happened in Assam's area. The area is a reserved forest. It is the responsibility of both the states to secure the reserved forests. I would like to request Mizoram Chief Minister to go through the satellite imagery and ensure that if there is an encroachment bid in the reserved forests, it is from Mizoram side and not from Assam side," he said.

Read:|Assam-Mizoram clash: Assam declares 3-day state mourning to condole death of cops, civilian

"We are ready to give the areas to Mizoram if the Central government says so. We are for peace and want lasting peace along the inter-state borders. The violence on Monday was a clash between the police and civilians of two states. Firing on the Assam Police personnel using LMG is uncalled for," he said.

The Assam Chief Minister said that the government has decided to give an ex gratia of Rs 50 lakh each to the families of five deceased Assam police personnel. The 42 people who received injuries will be given Rs 1 lakh each," said Sarma adding that the government had already airlifted the Cachar SP Vaivhab Chandrakant Nimbalkar to Mumbai for better treatment.

Read:|Civilians clash with cops, security forces for compensation in Assam

"The three injured Assam police personnel, who are said to be critical, will also be shifted to Guwahati Medical College and Hospital using air ambulance," he said. "The government will also give one month's salary to the personnel who are deployed along the Assam-Mizoram border," he added.

Assam Chief Minister further said that the government has also decided to raise three commando battalions to guard the inter-state border. Each of the battalions having 1,200 personnel will be deployed in Cachar, Hailakandi and Karimganj borders to check infiltration.