Will move Supreme Court on border row with Mizoram: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma

* Himanta Biswa Sarma is ready to face arrest if that resolves the boundary disputes

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Assam Government has decided to move the Supreme Court to resolve the border disputes with neighbouring Mizoram.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told reporters here on Sunday that his government would make a plea before the Apex Court to resolve the inter-state border disputes. He said that lawyers and legal experts in the State are preparing all documents and drafting the petition to approach the Supreme Court on the border disputes. "It will take some time to file the petition before the SC," he added.

Asserting that Assam always wants peace with its neighbouring States, including Mizoram, Sarma said, "Let there be a meeting between the Assam Government and Mizoram Government in the presence of the Centre to work out the future roadmap of peaceful coexistence."

Responding to the Mizoram Police registering an FIR against him, the Chief Minister said if filing an FIR resolves the Assam-Mizoram border disputes, he will appear before the police and fully cooperate with the investigation.

"If the police issue a notice, then I will go and join the investigation. I will start my Padayatra from Silchar to Vairengte and join the investigation. If the Mizoram Police arrests me, I will not go to seek interim bail from the Gauhati High Court. If my arrest resolves the issue, why not arrest me today itself," Sarma said.

On July 30, the Mizoram Police booked Himanta Biswa Sarma along with some senior officers of the Assam Police and the State Government on charges of attempt to murder and criminal conspiracy over the clashes on the Assam-Mizoram border on July 26. The border clash resulted in the killing of six Assam Police personnel and injuring over 60 people.

"But I have to protect my officers. I will not allow my officers to be arrested or not allow my officers to be taken away and we will not accept that notice," the Chief Minister said.

Wondering as to why the Mizoram and Assam need to investigate the recent inter-state border clashes, Sarma said, "Let the Central government or a neutral party investigate the border clashes. We do not have to file FIR against anybody. But if somebody dies, then the case needs investigation. Some proof has to be there. If people lose their lives, their parents can go and file a case. So a victim's kin has the right to know what happened on that day. It is not about Assam and Mizoram; it is about six lives. It is always better for some neutral third party to investigate the case, he said.

On Sunday, Chief Minister Sarma also tweeted, "Our focus is on keeping the spirit of Northeast alive. What happened along the Assam-Mizoram border is unacceptable to the people of both states."

"Mizoram Chief Minister told me, 'Himanta I will talk once my quarantine is over. If there is an issue, he will call me. I called him not less than 18-20 times from July 26. On July 26, I probably called him not less than 12 times," Sarma said. He said the Assam Government is ready to talk with the Mizoram government at any point in time and at any place to resolve the border issue.

Sarma said that Assam wants peace, tranquillity and wants to do development activity "for our citizens".

The Chief Minister has refuted the allegations of an "undeclared blockade" on all the roads leading to Mizoram."If there is any problem, definitely the Mizoram Chief Minister will call me, and I will try my best to see how I can help him. But as of now, I have not received any telephonic call from anybody," Sarma said.

Also Read: Mizoram Govt to Withdraw Case Against Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

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