Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said that Mizoram police have used Light Machine Guns (LMG) against personnel of Assam police on Monday. CM Sarma also said that the act speaks volumes about the intention and gravity of the situation.
"Clear evidence is now beginning to emerge that unfortunately show that Mizoram police has used Light Machine Guns (LMG) against personnel for Assam police. It is sad, unfortunate and speaks volumes about the intention and gravity of the situation," said Sarma in a Facebook post. Sarma also shared visuals of Mizoram police and locals rejoicing after the violence on his Twitter handle.
Sarma reached Silchar on Tuesday morning to take stock of the situation at Lailapur along the Assam Mizoram border where the violent clash took place. He also visited Silchar Medical College where several injured Assam police personnel were admitted.
The violence has been termed as yet another breach of existing agreements and the existing status quo by the Assam government. The government also said that Mizoram began constructing a road towards Rengti Basti in Assam, destroying the Inner Line Reserve Forest in the Lailapur area. A new armed camp on a hillock next to the camp of the neutral force, CRPF, in the same vicinity was also set up by the Mizoram side simultaneously, as per the Assam government.
A team of Assam officials including Inspector General of Police (IGP), Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Deputy Commissioner (DC) Cachar, Superintendents of Police (SP) Cachar and Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Cachar reached the area on Monday to request Mizoram side not to disturb the status quo, as per a statement issued by CMO. "Sadly, however, they were surrounded and attacked by a mob of miscreants from the Mizoram side, which was visibly supported by the Mizoram Police. The aggressive behaviour and posture of this mob along with the fact that they were brandishing weapons and wearing helmets is clearly seen in all available video footage," said the statement.
"While the mob pelted stones on the Assam officials and destroyed three vehicles including the DC's car, the Mizoram Police simultaneously fired Tear Gas Shells on the delegation. The IGP was injured in this barrage," CM said.
"In the afternoon, SP Kolasib along with two Additional SP level officers held a discussion with the Assam delegation, during which they were requested to control the mob and not let them take the law in their hands, thus disturbing the peace. The Mizoram officials went ostensibly to talk to the mob, but the SP Kolasib returned again around 4:30 pm to state that he had no control over the mob. Horrifically, even while SP, Kolasib was in talks with the Assam officers, the Mizoram Police opened fire on the Assam officials and civilians, who had by then gathered there, from two dominating high features with automatic weapons including LMGs," said CM.
"It is with a heavy heart that we are constrained to note that what is being termed by the Mizoram side as an intrusion and aggression by Assam, has left five Assam Police personnel confirmed dead and more than 50 injured, including SP Cachar, Vaibhav Nimbalkar," he said. CM also said that the SP had a bullet embedded in his leg and is in the ICU.
CM further said that the Assam Police and Officials have shown remarkable restraint in the face of an unimaginably horrific attack on them that is borne out by the fact that there are no casualties on the Mizoram side despite the huge number of miscreants attacking the Assam officials.
The violent clash erupted between Assam police, alleged Mizoram intruders and civilians along the Assam Mizoram border on Monday that left six people including five police personnel and a civilian dead.
Mutual cooperation between states can only resolve border disputes: Union Govt
Union Government informed the Lower House that inter-state border disputes can "only" be resolved with the cooperation of state governments and the Centre can only act as a facilitator. Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai made the remark in a written statement to the Lok Sabha, responding to the query on the role of the Union government in solving border disputes between states.
"The approach of the central government has consistently been that inter-state disputes can be resolved only with the cooperation of the state governments concerned and that the central government acts only as a facilitator for amicable settlement of the dispute in the spirit of mutual understanding," Rai said. He also added that at least four out of seven disputes in the country were reported from Assam.
Also read: Assam-Mizoram clash: Assam declares 3-day state mourning to condole death of cops, civilian
