Mizoram bridge

 Mizoram stops construction of bridge in disputed border, not to pursue ‘theft; case against Assam Police

GUWAHATI: THE state of Mizoram has decided to stop the construction of a bridge in Kachurtal area in Hailakandi district along the disputed border with Assam.

This decision was taken after Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla held a video conference with Home Secretaries, Deputy Commissioners and other higher officials of both the states on Monday.

Meanwhile, Assam police has also handed over the construction materials that were seized from Kachurtal two days back to Mizoram.

Talking to InsideNE, Gaurav Upadhyay, Superintendent of Police of Hailakandi district said, “To de-escalate the tension between both the states, we handed over the construction materials that was lying in Kachurtal area inside Assam territory. A team of Assam Police handed over the materials to people of Mizoram in Bairabi town inside Mizoram. We have also told them to use these materials for construction in their land and not on Assam land which is illegal.”

Notably, on Saturday, Deputy Commissioner of Kolasib had filed a case of ‘theft’ in Bairabi Police station in Mizoram against Assam Police._

He also wrote a letter to his Hailakandi counterpart where he alleged that personnel of Assam police entered Mizoram territory at Zophai area near Bairabi town in Kolasib district which borders Assam’s Hailakandi district and allegedly stole some construction materials, including iron rods, from a bridge construction site. Later a case of theft was registered in Bairabi Police Station.

After returning of the construction material, Vanlalfaka Ralte, Superintendent of Police of Kolasib district that shares boundary with Hailakandi has said that no probe and further legal proceeding will be initiated against the case of theft.

Talking to InsideNE Vanlalfaka Ralte said, "As they have returned the materials we don’t have anything to probe now. So we have stopped pursuing the case against Assam police."

-Insidene