SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
SILCHAR: Even as the situation on the Assam-Mizoram boundary along Lyllapur remains unchanged, hundreds of goods-laden trucks bound for the hill State are now stranded at a safe distance in Assam. Truckers went into panic after some of their fellow drivers were arrested by armed Mizo police who were subsequently released away at Kanpui. According to eye witness accounts, Indian Reserve Police Battalion (IR Bn) persons are fortifying their positions on Assam land for the last 18 hours as if preparing for a showdown, giving the impression that Mizoram is not under the federal structure of the country but a separate State.
All this has been happening when Additional Director General of Police of Assam, G.P. Singh has been making a survey of the three border areas of Lyllapur in Cachar, Chiragi-Shingla in Karimganj and Gharmoora in Hailakandi districts. Minister of Forest Parimal Suklabaidya, who has been on a visit to the disturbed areas of his constituency along Lyllapur and Dholakhal, saw for himself how the people — feeling unsafe and unprotected — are panicked and living in tension. The Minister also witnessed men, women and children deserting their homes and hearths. He has only to say, "Don't panic and don't leave."
Divisional Forest Officer of Cachar, SunnydeoChoudhury, who on advice of the Minister, was on a visit to the forested areas under the Hawaithang range close to Mizoram border, was on Saturday stopped on the way and threatened not to proceed by the IR Bn personnel. Finally, he too returned.
On Assam land, it is the writ of the Mizoram Government and not Assam that runs. Former MLA AtaurRahmanMajarbhuiya and Congress leader SarifujjmanLaskar who were moving to the village of Baghaivala and the blasted L P School at Dholakhal were detained at the approach of Dholakhal RCC bridge well inside Assam land by armed Mizo police personnel on Saturday. Both the leaders were witness to the construction of concrete bunkers like pits, giving ominous signal.
According to another eye witness account, members of the most influential students' organisation of Mizoram – the 'MizoZirlawi Pawl' (MZP) — and the 'Young Mizo Association' — another powerful organization of the State, were seen with armed police personnel at the construction site of Dholakhal Bridge.
Congress leaders and residents of the border areas see behind the Mizo land aggression a deeper conspiracy at the instigation of some inimical forces from outside. Before the situation goes out of control, demand has been raised by various organisations of Barak Valley for intervention of HimantaBiswaSarma, Convener of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) for dialogue with the Zoramthanga Government since it is a part of it.
Also watch: Live: Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma Live From Janata Bhawan (Assam Secretariat)