Guwahati: Even after a serious effort is going on to defuse the tension in Assam-Mizoram border the ground reality remains almost the same, as miscreants and unruly settlers in those areas continue to do vandalism which is simply spoiling the political goodwill shown by Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his counterpart Pu Zoramthanga.
Disturbing news continue to break from the sensitive locality as unidentified individuals, taking advantage of an unofficial blockade on NH 306, on Friday vandalised four trucks carrying important items to Mizoram from the Cachar district of Barak valley. The vehicles were reportedly full of eggs, carried from Karimganj locality, where the goons threw a large number of eggs on the road.
Meanwhile, the Mizoram government urged both the Centre to ensure free movement of vehicles on the national highways arguing that ‘it is inhumane to deprive a neighbouring State of medical supplies while the Covid-19 pandemic is raging’. It even demanded punishment measures against Assam government for the ongoing economic hardships in Mizoram.
Recently, two ministers from Assam arrived in Aizawl and discussed about various ways of easing the border tension, which flared up on 26 July resulting in the killing of six police personnel and injuring many others including the Cachar district police chief. A joint statement was also issued with all good words like peace, harmony, confidence building measures aiming for a lasting solution.
Days back, a nationalist citizen’s forum ‘Patriotic People’s Front Assam’ suspected that forest encroachers in the Assam-Mizoram border areas were behind all criminal activities. Even the last fateful incident was sparked by an incident of vandalism to a Mizo couple, who was returning from Assam’s side and faced the goons. Various Mizo individuals termed them as illegal Bangladeshi Muslim settlers.
