Mizoram-Tripura border dispute: Community leaders seek HM Amit Shah's intervention

Agartala: A week after Mizoram flagged the construction of proposed Shiv Mandir in Phuldungsei, a disputed village in the Tripura and Mizoram inter-state border, four social organizations of Bru and Chakma community have sought intervention of union home minister Amit Shah to solve the ongoing dispute between the two states.

Phuldungsei village situated at Kanchapur Sub-division under North Tripura district shares state boundary with Tripura and Mizoram.

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The social organization including the Bru Socio-Cultural Organization (BSCO), Young Bru Association (YBA), Young Chakma Association (YCA), Chakma National Council of India (CNCI), Tripura Chakma Students Association (TCSA) and Tripura Chubalai Buthu (TCB) have jointly written a letter to Shah apprising him on the current situation in North Tripura district created by the government of Mizoram.

“…Mizoram has claimed over a village named Phuldungsei in Jampui Hill in North Tripura district. They have forcefully conducted a village council election in the said village and have included it within their state territory. The village of Phuldungsei in Jampui Hill in North Tripura district has always been a part of Tripura and in whatsoever has never been a part of Mizoram. Therefore, we demand that a border amicable solution be undertaken immediately under the supervision of the union home ministry”, the letter reads.

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The Mizoram government has ‘undemocratically’ and by-passing the mechanism of secularism of Indian Constitution destroyed a Shiva Hindu Temple at Phuldungsei and a Buddhist Temple at Kanpui in Jampui Hill in North Tripura District, the leaders alleged.

“They have forcefully planted a sign of Christianity in place of the said location which further flares communal violence between different sects of the Community practicing the said religions. Therefore, we demand that such forceful removal of religious signs be restored immediately”, the letter handed over to EastMojo reads.

The Mamit district magistrate Dr Lalrozama had issued a prohibitory order along the inter-state border claiming the Phuldungsei village as part of Mizoram, however later on October 18, the order was revoked, which was issued following an attempt to build a Shiv temple in the village by Tripura residents.

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On October 19 and 20, an organization called Songrongma in Tripura planned to build a Shiva temple at Betlingcchip also known as Thaidawr Tlang locally.

The Bru leaders further demanded amicable border solution stretching in the entire 66 Km between Mizoram and Tripura under the supervision of the Union Home Ministry and demarcation to be accomplished based on Assam Tripura ancient geography boundary line.

“The Government of Mizoram should be barred from interfering and destroying a religious place of worship inside Tripura which does not concern their interest except to forcibly occupy and integrate other land”, the letter sent to the union home minister reads.

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The development comes two months after the Kanchanpur Sub-division magistrate Chandni Chandran identified more than 130 residents of Phuldungsei enrolled in the electoral roll of Zampui Phuldungsei under Hacchek constituency of Mizoram.

Earlier, the additional secretary to the government of Tripura AK Bhattacharya had written a letter to the Mizoram home department OSD and deputy secretary David H Lalthangliana demanding immediate withdrawal of Section 144 from Phuldungsei village.

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The Tripura government also said that the Mamit district magistrate has erroneously mentioned Betlingchhip (as also referred to as Thaidawr Tlang by few Mizos) which is currently under complete administrative control and possession of the Tripura under North Tripura district.

“Phuldungsei Jampui is under the Sabual Village Committee of Jampui Hills RD Block in Kanchanpur subdivision of North Tripura district. The Tripura government long ago built the ‘watchtower’ at the peak of Betlingchhip long back under the Department of Tourism,” the order copy reads.

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