Standoff, stone pelting: How the Assam-mizoram clash unfolded
On Sunday, a day prior to Monday’s violent clashes along he Assam-mizoram border, Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga’s convoy passed through national highway (NH 306), which connects the two states. He was returning to Aizawl a day after attending a meeting of Union home minister Amit Shah with chief ministers of all states in the Northeast at Meghalaya’s capital Shillong. On his return journey, Zoramthanga halted briefly along the route on the Assam side and was greeted by deputy commissioner of Cachar district in Assam, Keerthi Jalli, and the district superintendent of police VC Nimbalkar.
Less than 24 hours later, violent clashes, which both Assam and Mizoram claim to have been started by the other side, killed 7 people including 6 policemen and injured 41 others on the Assam side. Superintendent of police Nimbalkar, who sustained grievous bullet injuries on his lower body, was airlifted to Mumbai by an Indian Air Force aircraft on Tuesday for treatment.
Assam shares 164 km of border with Mizoram and though both states have a long pending dispute regarding their boundary it intensified last year when some miscreants bombed a government school in Khulicherra area in Assam’s territory. Local residents claimed that it was done by Mizoram, which, in turn, claimed that Assam government personnel had forcefully constructed schools and RCC bridges on their land. Mizoram also stopped several top officials of Assam government and the central government from visiting those places.
On Monday morning, Assam police officials captured a camp near Lailapur border which was reportedly built last year by India Reserve (IR) battalion of Mizoram Police. According to locals on the Assam side, the number of Assam police personnel was much larger than the IR battalion. But when the news about presence of Assam troops broke in Vairengte in Mizoram, hundreds of locals started gathering at the spot. As per Assam government officials, around 11:30am, a group of people started pelting stones from Mizoram’s side.
According to journalists present at the site on the Assam side of the border, stone pelting continued from both sides for several hours till the firing started. Cachar DC Jalli along with SP Nimbalkar and other Assam officials were at the camp near Lailapur border.
Around 4:00 pm, superintendent of police of Kolasib district in Mizoram came to the camp and Jalli gave him her chair. But 20 minutes later, as the officials of the two states were discussing the issue, three tear gas canisters fell on the road on the Assam side; soon the place was full of toxic smoke. Few minutes later there was the sound of guns being fired. Police personnel, local residents and journalists ran for cover. Few people sustained injuries and were rushed to nearby government health centre , according to eye-witnesses. They were immediately referred to Sil
LAILAPUR(ASSAM):
In the first exercise to demarcate present day Mizoram, the British demarcate the area under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation of 1873. Mizoram follows this border.
The British further refine the demarcation. The trifurcation leads to some part of the area going to Manipur. Assam follows the 1933 demarcation.
char Medical College and Hospital (SMCH) in Assam.
Several journalists from Assam who were covering the developments were injured , but not by bullets. Internet and phone connections remained disrupted at the site for several minutes and the place felt like a war-zone.
The Mizoram version of how the events unfolded is different.
“Upon learning of the arson committed by Assam Police, residents of Vairengte town, Kolasib District proceeded to the site to inquire. These unarmed civilians were assaulted by Assam Police by lathi charging them and firing tear gas, thereby causing injuries to several civilians,” read a Mizoram government statement. Talking to HT over phone from Aizawl on Tuesday, Mizoram home minister Lalchamliana reiterated that Assam police personnel and civilians entered Mizoram and forcibly removed residents.
Mizoram information and public relations minister Lalruatkima who was stationed at the border, “The bloody clash could have been averted had CRPF prevented Assam police from entering Mizoram territory.”
On Tuesday, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited Silchar and met those injured in Monday’s attack. He also paid tribute to the police personnel killed. Sarma reiterated the claim that firing started from Mizoram side and announced compensation for family members of those killed and injured. Lalchamliana said that the situation along the border was peaceful and there have been no new developments on Tuesday. He informed that on Wednesday, chief secretaries and police chiefs of both states would meet union home secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla at New Delhi to discuss Monday’s incident and the border dispute.
Mizoram is declared a state; Mizo tribal leaders raise the border dispute with Assam
Major skirmishes reported along the Assam-mizoram border when Mizoram govt tries to settle people as per the 1875 demarcation
Nearly 50 persons are injured in police action by Assam police after some Mizo civil society groups try to set up a travelers hut on the disputed area
The 2 states agree to maintain a status quo and treat the disputed area as no man’s land.
Meghalaya
Tripura
Assam
Manipur
Mizoram
Skirmishes in
October leave several injured on both sides and result in a blockade of NH 306, the lifeline to Mizoram, for 12 days
Violent clashes along the disputes area leave six dead