NJ Thakuria
Guwahati: The weeklong tension in Assam-Mizoram border areas flared up as a resident of Cachar district in Barak valley allegedly died in the custody of Mizoram police on Monday. Identified as Intyaz Ali (4b), the Cachar resident understandably crossed the inter-State border on the previous day and he was allegedly physically tortured by some member of Young Mizo Association terming him a seasoned drug-peddler.
Meanwhile, visiting the aggrieved family on 3 November, Assam environment minister Parimal Suklabaidya assured that the State government in Dispur would institute a probe into the killing and it might be handed over to the National Investigation Agency. Suklabaidya, who represents the locality, also gave away a cheque of Rs 5 lakh as ex-gratia to the family.
The Mizoram authority as well as influential social organisations claimed that Ali was caught when he was selling banned drugs at Vairengte area of the bordering district of Kolasib. Later he was handed over to the narcotics department and finally he was declared dead in the hospital. The Kolasib police brought his body to hand over to the Cachar police. However, Ali’s family members denied it and asserted that he went to collect jungle firewood when the Mizoram police picked him up.
Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal has already apprised the Union home ministry of all details relating to the ongoing border tension. He directed State chief secretary Jishnu Barua, State police chief Bhaskarjyoti Mahanta and Cachar district magistrate Keerthi Jalli to rush to the area and take stock of the situation.
The residents of bordering areas have already blocked the National Highway 306 that connects the Mizoram capital city of Aizawl as a lifeline to the hilly State since 17 October as miscreants damaged many houses in the locality. Hundreds of Aizawl bound goods trucks are now stuck in the Lailapur area. Both the governments organised a series of talks following the Centre’s direction but a satisfactory resolution is yet to be surfaced.
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