Aizawl: Two platoons of the first battalion India Reserve Police were sent to a village on the Mizoram- Assam border after officials from neighbouring Assam dismantled farm houses inside the Mizoram territory, police said on Tuesday.
State Home Minister R Lalzirliana would visit Buhchangphai, the village where the incidents took place on April 23 and 27, on Wednesday, according to official sources.
Two Assam Forest officials, six Assam Armed Police with arms and ten people belonging to the Bru community forcibly snatched 50 sawn timbers, one goat and two chickens from labourers working in a farm in Buhchangphai’s Ramtharzau on April 23, Deputy IGP (Northern Range) Zorammuana said.
A criminal case was registered at the Mizoram-Assam border Vairengte Police Station against the officials and civilians in this connection, he said.
Four days later on April 27, 18 Assam Forest officials, eight policemen and six civilians went to the same place and allegedly dismantled two kutcha huts of two labourers — Safiq Uddin and Mandon Sali working in the same farm belonging to one Laldawngliana, Zorammuana added.
They also allegedly damaged irrigation pipes and crops before threatening the duo to leave the place along with their families within three days.
The Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police of Kolasib District has taken up the matter with their Hailakandi counterparts while the IRP battalion personnel were conducting 24-hour patrolling in the area.
Mizoram CM’s security to be beefed up
Meanwhile, security for Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla would be beefed up following “threats” from some opposition leaders, a state minister said on Tuesday. “Some opposition leaders were indulging in hate politics targeting the chief minister and I have instructed the police to be more vigilant regarding his security,” State Home Minister Lalzirliana told a press conference.
The minister alleged that some of the opposition leaders were fomenting trouble after a Presbyterian Church elder K Chhawnthuama alleged tampering of EVMs against the chief minister.
Lalzirliana also accused opposition leaders of trying to create law and order problems in the state and force the Thanhawla government out if NDA comes to power at the Centre.
Incidentally, Chhawnthuama, popular as Phantom, now in judicial custody after his arrest on April 14 along with his associate K Lalhruaitluanga, has sent SMSes to the chief minister accusing him of rigging EVMs to retain power.
State police officials, however, said though there was a perception of general threat, but no specific threat during the recent days for the chief minister while police were instructed to stay more alert. (PTI)