Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga on Wednesday made a fervent appeal to the people to refrain from any sort of violence amid border dispute with neighbouring Assam that escalated after a violent clash near Vairengte town in Kolasib district on Monday.
The Chief Minister’s appeal came at a time when a 12-hours bandh and economic blockade is being staged on the National Highway-306 in Barak Valley comprising three districts of Assam- Cachar, Hailakandi and Karimganj by certain organisations, which disrupted traffic movements and transportation of goods to Mizoram.
Zoramthanga said that residents of Assam living in Mizoram are at peace despite the border tussle.
“Our Assam brethren receiving their Covid vaccines at a Local Church Hall in Aizawl. Non-Mizos from all walks of life within Mizoram are at peace. I urge everyone to remain peaceful and refrain from any sort of violence. NorthEast will always be One,” the chief minister said in his official Twitter handle.
With his post, he attached a video clip of some Assam residents receiving Covid-19 vaccines at a church hall in Aizawl and talking about how safe they are in Mizoram.
The state government and civil society organisations have also urged the Mizo people to ensure the safety of non-tribal in the state.
“The state government has already instructed all deputy commissioners and superintendent of police across the state to take necessary measures to ensure that no non-Mizos are harmed in their respective states,” state chief secretary Lalnunmawia Chuaungo, who is now in Delhi for border talks, said.
He said that the Mizoram government also urged its Assam counterpart to ensure the safety and security of Mizo communities living in Assam, especially Mizoram houses and all mission compounds ( church-run mission headquarters) in the neighbouring state.
The central committee of the Young Mizo Association (CYMA), the largest civil organisation in the state has also urged the Mizo people to show restrain and not involve in anti-social activities so that no non-tribals in the state are harmed.
The organisation vice president Lalhmachhuana said that the meeting of the organisation on Monday had passed a resolution urging the people of Mizoram to ensure the safety of non-tribal especially those coming from the neighbouring state.
Citing that the Central YMA is making efforts to ensure the safety of non-tribals, the leader said that none of the non-Mizos or residents of Assam is harmed in the state in the wake of the border dispute.
Thousands of people, mostly daily labourers from Assam especially from Hailakandi, Karimganj and Cachar districts are currently living in Mizoram.
These migrant workers and many stranded drivers from other states, including Assam, were provided food and financial help by YMA and village or local councils during the coronavirus induced lockdown last year.
Mizoram’s three districts- Aizawl, Kolasib and Mamit share about 164.6 km long inter-state border with Assam’s Cachar, Hailakandi and Karimganj districts.
The present border dispute between the two neighbouring states that erupted on June 29 has escalated to a bloody clash on Monday when both state forces exchanged fire leading to the death of at least six policemen from Assam, prompting the Centre to convene talks between the two states in Delhi on Wednesday.
The outcome of the talks is not known at the time of filing this report.
