The apex student body of Mizoram – the Mizo Zirlai Pawl said that they would collect donations from corporate houses and workers from Assam settling in Mizoram to compensate damaged properties during the boundary standoff at Bairabi in Kolasib district.
The student body claimed that Rs 21 lakhs worth personal belongings of the student volunteers were destroyed and burnt by the Assam police during the standoff.
“We have lodged the details of the properties burnt and damaged by the Assam police to the union home ministry and Assam government seeking compensation, till date both the governments have not done anything,” L Ramdinliana Renthlei, president of the Mizo Zirlai Pawl told Northeast Now.
Also read: 20 injured in clash with police along Assam-Mizoram border
The student body also said that the Mizoram government too, has rejected their request to pay the medical bills of the student who was shot at by the Assam police and other volunteers who suffered injuries during the confrontation at Zophai near Bairabi.
“We were promised that all medical bills and vehicles repair bills would be met by the Mizoram government. They have rejected our pleas citing lack of funds. We are left with no other option but to collect donations from corporate houses, workers from Assam settling in Mizoram and the people of Mizoram,” the MZP president said.
On March 8 several students, including three journalists, were injured when Assam police resorted to lathicharge and allegedly used force to foil the students’ move to construct a rest shed at Mizoram-Assam border hamlet of Zophai in Kolasib district.
At least 15 people were wounded in the lathicharge. After a long tussle, the students left the area. The Mizoram Journalists’ Association (MJA) an umbrella association of all journalists in Mizoram said its members were physically attacked by Assam police during a clash with the students and demanded an apology from the Assam government.