More than 500 Police force from Assam today used force over the Mizo Zirlai Pawl members in Bairabi, Mizoram due to state’s boundary disputes.
The Mizoram students association – Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) built ‘Zofate Chawlhbuk’ (a shed) at Zophai, Bairabi, Mizoram on the 27th February last month. This very day at around 8pm the Assam Policemen and Forest Deptt staffs totally demolished it, and they looted all the building materials.
Next day, The MZP General Headquarters, Aizawl emergent meeting passed a resolution to re-build ‘Zofate Chawlhbuk’ at the same site on 8th February, 2018 i.e. today (Thursday).
On February 8, hundreds of MZP members reached Zophai, Bairabi, they were accompanied by numbers of Mizo youth volunteers to re-build a shed. It was around 11am, more than 500 policemen who had already been stationed at the building site used excessive force to defend the said land claiming as a part of Assam boundary. Many Mizo youths were severely injured including Mizoram Journalists from Aizawl and Kolasib. More than 10 injured persons were taken to Bairabi PHC for medical aid, but unfortunately Doctor duty was out of station. Among the injured person, there was an old man, Ruala aged above 60.
In the afternoon the MZP, Assam Magistrate and Police had a talk on this outbreak. Since, Assam and Mizoram state’s boundary dispute has been a long gone un-settled, the Assam officials said that they had sent an official letters to Mizoram Government in order to held official talk and have been awaiting for long time, but works in vain.
Meantime, the MZP leaders said that they would not stop on what they have sought for. Their relentless effort on the two states boundary disputes urged them to take another fresh steps until they re-build the Zofate Chawlhbuk at Bairabi, Mizoram said the MZP President L.Ramdinliana Renthlei.
Renthlei added, today they had decided to camp at Bairabi as long as possible and ready to do or die for the sake of Mizo nation.
Prior to the outbreak of boundary dispute, on March 7th Assam Additional Chief Secretary had sent a letter to the Mizoram Chief Secretary and Director General of Police requesting to take pre-emtive measures to stop any encroachment in Assam territory by any organisation from Mizoram and to maintain status quo and peace along the inter-state border.
Malsawmpuia Ralte, Journalist