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Assam govt urges residents to not travel to Mizoram
Police forces of both states clashed at the Assam-Mizoram border due to an interstate border dispute on July 26.
The Assam government on Thursday issued an advisory asking Assam residents to not travel to Mizoram citing safety concerns, arising out of the recent clashes at the Assam-Mizoram border. The Assam government also cited ‘provocative statements’ issued by ‘Mizo Civil Society, students and youth organisations’ against Assamese people as a reason behind the advisory.
The Assam government in its advisory said that based on video footage in possession with Assam Police, it has learnt that some unidentified people in Mizoram were in possession of firearms.
“There have been several cases of violent skirmishes in the border area of Assam and Mizoram. These skirmishes have occurred recently in the 3 (three) districts of Assam namely- Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi… Certain Mizo Civil Society, students and youth organisations are constantly issuing provocative statements against the state of Assam and its people,” the advisory said.
“It has been reliably learnt from video footage available with Assam Police, that many civilians are heavily armed with automatic weapons… Given the critical prevailing situation, the people of Assam are advised not to travel to Mizoram as any threat to personal safety of people of Assam cannot be accepted. People of Assam, staying in Mizoram due to work related compulsion, should exercise utmost caution,” the advisory further added.
The Assam government however in a separate circular asked deputy commissioners and police chiefs in Kamrup (Metropolitan) and Cachar districts to ensure the safety of people who hail from Mizoram staying in Mizoram House in Guwahati and Silchar
Police forces of both states clashed at the Assam-Mizoram border due to an interstate border dispute on July 26. Both chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma as well Zoramthanga took to Twitter blaming each other’s state police forces for the violence. Assam chief minister later said that six Assamese policemen lost their lives in the clashes.
Both states on Wednesday decided to withdraw their police officers from the disputed site after a meeting with the Union home secretary and have decided to let Central paramilitary troops man the disputed zone.
(with inputs from Utpal Parashar)
