Border imbroglio: Assam ministers urge locals to lift economic blockade, ease tension

Assam Minister Parimal Suklabaidya and Ashok Singhal visited Lailapur along the Assam-Mizoram inter-state border to persuade the locals to lift the economic blockade and to create an atmosphere paving the way for the restoration of peace and tranquility.

Dispur (Assam):AssamMinister for Environment and Forest, Fisheries and Excise, Parimal Suklabaidya and Minister for GDD, Urban Development and Irrigation Minister, Cachar, Ashok Singhal on Saturday visited Lailapur along the Assam-Mizoram inter-state border to persuade the locals to lift the economic blockade and to create an atmosphere paving the way for the restoration of peace and tranquillity. The ministers were accompanied by the senior officials of police and civil administration.

The local people and some organizations had resorted to an "unofficial economic blockade" in the area bordering Mizoram following the killing of six police personnel and a civilian in an attack from across the border on July 26.

On the directions of Chief Minister, Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, both the ministers visited the Lailapur Police Outpost along the inter-state border and persuaded the locals to allow the free movement of vehicles laden with essential goods to Mizoram and to ease tension along the border.

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"The safety of the local people is our responsibility and we assure you all necessary support," assured Minister Suklabaidya to the representatives of NGOs, leading citizens of the area, apart from Silchar Truck Drivers' Association and Nagatilla Truck Owners' Association. The Ministers urged the people to refrain from any further protests or any unwanted circumstances along the routes to Mizoram to ensure a smooth flow of essentials to the neighbouring state.

The local people resorting to economic blockade have agreed to withdraw the blockade and that movement of scores of stranded trucks on the Assam side of the border is most likely to begin tonight. The Assam government has maintained that there is no official ''economic blockade'' along the border but the vehicles were not moving towards Mizoram fearing attacks.