Kolasib DC bats for peace amid Assam encroachment charges

Aizawl: Kolasib deputy commissioner (DC) Robert C Lalhmangaiha on Wednesday appealed to Saipum villagers to maintain peace along the Assam-Mizoram border and settle disputes, if any, amicably.Having received information of a possible encroachment from the Assam side, with people from the neighbouring state having allegedly cleared a forest for cultivation within the village council area, after the state police camp was withdrawn, the DC and district SP Lalrinpuia Varte visited Saipum to hold a meeting with the residents.“The Mizoram govt is taking serious view of the encroachment and wants to avoid confrontation, instead finding amicable solution to the border dispute,” the DC said, assuring villagers that all necessary steps will be taken regarding the matter.The village leaders informed Lalhmangaiha that the area encroached by the people from Assam was within the village council area, and that if the encroachment continued, violence will eventually break out.Earlier, on Wednesday, CM Lalduhoma, speaking at the assembly, confirmed that information had been received regarding encroachment from the Assam side and that the DC and the SP had been sent to the Saipum to investigate the matter.Lalduhoma said he and his Assam counterpart, Himanta Biswa Sarma, had personally vowed to maintain status quo to ensure peace along the border area. “If there is any problem, the matter will be discussed at the CM level,” the CM said in response to the opposition legislator Lalrinsanga Ralte’s charge that there was a possible violation of status quo by the Assam govt.Ralte, a Mizo National Front (MNF) leader, also accused the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) govt of neglecting the border police outposts and camps, as well as approach roads to the police posts, while warning that Assam has been fortifying its state police outposts and camps along the disputed border areas.