Mizoram withdraws probe against Assam CM as ‘goodwill gesture’

Aizawl: The probe against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma will not be pursued as a goodwill gesture to de-escalate tensions between Mizoram and Assam over the inter-state boundary dispute, a police officer said on Monday. 

Kolasib Superintendent of Police (SP) Vanlalfaka said that the FIR against Sarma has not been actually withdrawn but probe against him would not proceed. 

“Though the case against Assam Chief Minister has been taken up by the state police as it was cognizable offence and the FIR not exactly withdrawn, no probe will be pursued against him as a goodwill gesture to promote peace,” he said.

The Assam CM has never been summoned for a grill even before, he said.
However, cases against other six officials and unidentified 200 police personnel of the neighbouring state will be pursued, he said.

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Earlier on Sunday, Mizoram Chief Secretary Lalnunmawia Chuango had said that the government was ready to withdraw the FIR filed against Sarma if there is no legal validity to prove his offences.  

Even Chief Minister Zoramthanga disapproved of naming Sarma among other officials in the FIR, which was filed at Vairengte police station on July 26, he had said.

Late on Sunday, Sarma announced that he directed his policemen to withdraw the FIR filed against Mizoram Rajya Sabha member K. Vanlalvena as a goodwill gesture following discussion with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and his Mizoram counterpart Zoramthanga. 

“I have noted statements in media by Honble CM @ZoramthangaCM wherein he has expressed his desire to settle the border dispute amicably. Assam always wants to keep the spirit of North East alive……To take this goodwill gesture ahead, I have directed @assampolice to withdraw FIR against K. Vanlalvena, Hon’ble MP, Rajya Sabha from Mizoram,” Assam CM Sarma said in a tweet.

He, however, said that cases against other officials will be pursued. The Assam chief minister and convener of NEDA, in which the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) in Mizoram is part of it, said that his government is committed to ensuring peace along the state border with Mizoram.

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The Assam Police had earlier registered FIR against K. Vanlalvena, who has been accused of involvement in a conspiracy leading to the bloody clash on July 26, following his abusive remarks.

The Assam police had also registered cases against six Mizoram officials, including Kolasib Deputy Commissioner H. Lalthlangliana and SP Vanlalfaka Ralte, who were summoned for questioning on Sunday.

The Mizoram police, on their part, also booked Sarma and six other officials, including Assam Inspector General of Police (IGP) Anurag Aggarwal, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Cachar Devojyoti Mukherjee, Cachar Superintendent of Police Cahndrakant Nimbalkar and Cachar Deputy Commissioner Keerthi Jalli. They were charged under different sections of the IPC, including “attempt to murder” and “criminal conspiracy.”

Besides, unidentified 200 Assam police personnel were also named in the FIR. In fact, the FIR was filed late on July 26 soon after the gunfight between police forces of the two states.The six Assam officials were summoned to appear before the investigation officer at Vairengte police station on Sunday. Highly placed sources said that both sides did not honour the summons. 

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