Fresh Unrest Along Assam-Mizoram Border, 20 Houses Set Ablaze

GUWAHATI: The boundary dispute between Assam and Mizoram has flared up again leading to loss of property along the border area on February 9.

According to reports, tension erupted at the disputed Bairabi-Zophai area in Mizoram's Kolasib district which is also known as Kachurthal in Assam's Hailakandi district.

Meanwhile, miscreants reportedly from the Mizoram side set as many as 20 houses on fire along the border area of Hailakandi leaving at least 3 people injured.

Reportedly, a clash between the locals from both end started when Mizoram's P&E dept officials went to check the illegal construction of a road in the disputed Bairabi-Zophai area were attacked by unknown miscreants from Assam.

The wounded have been admitted to a nearby hospital. The tension erupted further leading to the torching of houses belonging to residents from the Assam side of the border.

The incident has primarily occurred in the inner liner forests of the Kosurtol area that is located at the Assam-Mizoram border along Hailakandi.

Earlier, the tension along the Assam-Mizoram border started on October 17, when almost 20 houses and shops were set on fire in the border area.

The incident left several injured.

State Minister of Fishery, Excise, and Environment and Forest, Parimal Suklabaidya also took stock of the situation and visited Lailapur area in Cachar district reassured the locals that the state government is with them.

In November 2020, a man from Cachar in Assam was brutally killed by Mizo miscreants. The man identified as Intaz Ali was kidnapped and then killed, according to reports. Assam minister for excise and environment and forest, Parimal Suklabaidya visited the family of the deceased and assured all help. An ex-gratia amount would be announced soon. The minister condemned the incident.

Mizoram shares a 164.6-km border with Assam. Several dialogues held since 1995 to resolve the border dispute have yielded little results.

The two states are often at loggerheads over the boundary, which they dispute.

Further, according to minister Parimal Suklabaidya till date, about 1.5 km of land has been occupied by Mizoram near Assam-Mizoram border.

"We have been requesting them to go back," said Suklabaidya.

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