Border row: Assam minister gives clean chit to Mizoram

GUWAHATI: Assam minister Parimal Suklabaidya, deputed to the tense Barak Valley to bring back normalcy along the Mizoram border, on Sunday said there has been no encroachment on Assam's territory by Mizoram since the BJP-led government took over the reins of power in 2016.
"The border dispute with Mizoram has been going on since 1982 following no clear-cut demarcation of the boundary and that the present government has taken up the matter with the central government for a durable solution of the vexed border problem." In what can be termed contradictory to Suklabaidya's statement, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma recently informed the state assembly that Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi - all three districts - have faced encroachment or aggression by people from Mizoram. Nevertheless, Cachar district has recorded the highest, 25 such incidents since 2016.
Suklabaidya, who is also the guardian minister for Hailakandi district in Barak Valley, held a meeting with the district administration regarding border-related issues pertaining to the Assam-Mizoram inter-state border on Sunday. Even as he informed the media that the Mizoram government has assured that they would institute an inquiry into the violent incident in Cachar district on July 26 that led to the killing of six Assam police personnel and injured many, Suklabaidya said that the Assam government would also on its part do everything possible, including approaching the Supreme Court for justice.
Assam shares a 164.6km inter-state border with Mizoram. This border is shared by three districts of south Assam - Cachar, Hailakandi and Karimganj - and three districts of Mizoram - Kolasib, Mamit and Aizawl.
Following incidents of protests and economic blockades in Cachar as well as in Hailakandi after the border skirmish, Suklabaidya on Sunday discussed a gamut of border-related issues, including the need to keep unhindered flow of essential commodities and medicine to the neighbouring state. Mizoram has been hard hit by shortage of supplies following the economic blockade resorted to by the people of Assam living close to the border in Hailakandi and Cachar districts.
At the directive of chief minister Sarma, Suklabaidya said he, along with cabinet minister Ashok Singhal, held a fruitful meeting with the district administration of Cachar and other stakeholders at Lailapur on Saturday evening that eventually led to the withdrawal of the economic blockade resorted to by the local people since the July 26 border flare-up.
Suklabaidya has asked the civil administration and police to take all possible steps to instill confidence among the people that the "government stands with them through thick and thin and their safety and security will be ensured". He also asked the administration to be vigilant to foil the nefarious designs of "certain forces" at work and to create a congenial atmosphere for peace and tranquility to prevail on the border.
The minister urged the representatives of political parties who took part in the meeting to extend support and cooperation to the government in bringing back normalcy along the inter-state border and in ensuring smooth flow of essential goods to Mizoram on humanitarian ground. After the meeting, Suklabaidya said surface movement of essential commodities would start from Hailakandi district bordering Mizoram from Sunday and that transportation through rail would begin once the vandalised tracks are repaired. Following the border violence, miscreants damaged nearly 1km rail track near Mahammadpur railway station in Hailakandi. "Movement of goods will begin today, barring six gas tankers on safety grounds," he added.