Border Row: Following Amit Shah’s intervention, Mizo and Assam CMs burry the hatchet for the time being

Photo of the July 26, 2021 border clash at Vairengte Auto Rickshaw stand

Aizawl: In a move which Chief Minister Zoramthanga said will create cordiality between Mizoram and Assam – the two engaged in a bitter border dispute that culminated into killing of six Assam police personnels on July 26, 2021 – asked the Mizoram police to drop the FIR against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and six others, today.

The Mizo CM’s move follows Sarma’s directive to the Assam police on Sunday to withdraw FIR against Mizoram Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament K. Vanlalvena, as a “goodwill gesture” following discussion with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Zoramthanga. Vanlavena was accused of making abusive remarks in a media interview that that led to the bloody clash on July 26.

The Mizo police had registered the FIR Sarma on July 26 after the bloody clashes. While Sarma in a public tweet addressed to Zoramthanga and also marked to Shah and Prime Minister’s Office, had sought the latter’s intervention at the earliest to his complain that “Kolasib (Mizoram) SP [Superintendent of Police] is asking us to withdraw from our post until then their civilians won’t listen nor stop violence”. Sarma had said in his  tweet: “How can we run government in such circumstances? Hope you will intervene at earliest .”

The Mizo CM had then directed a tweet to Sarma, writing that after cordial meeting of CMs by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, “surprisingly 2 companies of Assam Police with civilians lathicharged and tear gassed civilians at Vairengte Auto Rickshaw stand” inside Mizoram that day, and also even overrun CRPF personnel /Mizoram Police. 

However, on Sunday, August 1, the Mizoram government had said it would withdraw the FIR filed against Sarma.Hours after the announcement, Sarma too had reciprocated saying he would take his Mizo counterpart’s  “goodwill gesture” ahead and drop the case against Vanlalvena. In a series of tweet on August 1, in this regard.

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I have noted statements in media by Honble CM @ZoramthangaCM wherein he has expressed his desire to settle the border dispute amicably. Assam always wants to keep the spirit of North East alive. We are also committed to ensuring peace along our borders.

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) August 1, 2021

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To take this goodwill gesture ahead, I have directed @assampolice to withdraw FIR against K. Vanlalvena , Honble MP, Rajya Sabha from Mizoram. However cases against other accused police officers will be pursued.

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) August 1, 2021

Also read: Encroachers in Assam-Mizoram border should be probed for instigating violence in which six police personnel were killed