Mizoram accuses Assam Police of abducting worker, fresh row erupts

LAST WEEK, ASSAM POLICE OBJECTED TO CONSTRUCTION OF A BRIDGE BY MIZORAM AND STOPPED THE WORK FORCIBLY

SILCHAR: Mizoram on Thursday accused Assam Police of abducting a JCB vehicle operator at gunpoint from the disputed border, which witnessed violent clashes between forces of both sides in July this year.

Assam, however, denied the allegation and accused the neighbouring state of constructing camps of the former’s land.

In a letter to Assam’s Hailakandi deputy commissioner Roshan Kumar Jha, deputy commissioner of Mizoram’s Kolashib district, Dr H Lalthlangliana, appealed for cooperation from the neighbouring state in the matter. “It has been brought to my notice based on a reliable report that Assam police officials wearing commando uniform blindfolded and kidnapped a JCB operator from our side with a gun pointed to his head. He was then dragged by the river, ripped off his clothes and threatened for his life. His mobile phone along with JCB keys were taken by Assam Police.This is considered to be a setback towards the initiatives for peace,” the letter read.

Lalthlangliana also urged Assam officials to return the items allegedly taken away by Assam police to the earth excavator operator at the earliest.

“I urge for your immediate intervention as district magistrate into the situation and to take necessary action towards these perpetrators... I look forward to your positive response and also request your kind cooperation to maintain peace and order at the interstate border.”

Refuting the allegations, Hailakandi district superintendent of police (SP) Gaurav Upadhyay said: “Our police officials did not harm anyone and there is no question of kidnapping any Mizo citizen at gunpoint. Mizoram is trying to mislead by spreading lies. I think they should stop acting this way at such a crucial time when people are angry and upset.” Accusing Mizoram of constructing camps on the former’s land since August

26, the SP said repeated letters to the Kolashib administration in this regard elicited no response, prompting the police to use force to stop the work.

“On August 26, we noticed two camps constructed by Mizoram on our land at Dholakhal area under Bilaipur Police station. Along with me, DC and forest officials of Hailakandi wrote letters to Kolashib district administration of Mizoram, but no response came. They again started constructing new camps using a JCB excavator which we the stopped because it was happening on our land,” he said.

Last week, Assam Police had objected to the construction of a bridge, by Mizoram, in Hailakandi district and forcefully stopped the work.