Mizoram police file FIR against Himanta

SILCHAR Mizoram registered an FIR against Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and senior police officers, people aware of developments said on Friday, spotlighting simmering tensions between the northeastern neighbours days after violent border clashes killed seven people.

The developments came on a day Mizoram condemned Assam’s decision to ask its citizens to not travel to the neighbouring state and a key government committee appeared to harden its stance on the border dispute.

“Public notice to all. Northeast India will always be One,” chief minister Zoramthanga tweeted. “I still hope for an amicable solution to the Assam-Mizoram border tension from the central government,” he added.

On Thursday, Assam asked its residents not to travel to Mizoram due to safety concerns and asked those already in the state to exercise caution. The unprecedented advisory came amid allegations by Mizoram that the larger state had imposed an informal economic blockade by refusing to let goods pass through.

“Given the critical prevailing situation, the people of Assam are advised not to travel to Mizoram as any threat to personal safety of people of Assam cannot be accepted,” said the advisory issued by MS Manivannan, commissioner and secretary in Assam’s home and political department.

The police forces of the two states fought a pitched gun battle at a disputed border in southern Assam on July 26, in which six Assam policemen died. Assam claimed Mizoram police opened fire on its forces who objected to a road being constructed by Mizoram on a patch of forested land it claims. Mizoram claimed the land belongs to it.

Locals near damaged security force vehicles after clashes on the Assam-Mizoram border on July 27.