Aizawl: The Mizoram-Myanmar border or friendship gate at Zokhawthar village in east Mizoram’s Champhai district will not be sealed from May 1 as was previously decided by the Assam Rifles, a senior official of the state home department said.
Earlier, the Assam Rifles, which guards the 510 km-long Mizoram-Myanmar border, had said that the border will be sealed from May 1 to prevent any cross-border activities.
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The senior home official said that the meeting of the home department, Assam Rifles and other law enforcement agencies held on Monday discussed the matter and agreed not to seal the international border or friendship gate in Zokhawthar.
He said that the Assam Rifles were told that they should not indulge in activities that could have created panic among the civilians.
Six Mizoram districts — Champhai, Lawngtlai, Siaha, Serchhip, Saitual and Hnahthial- share a 510 km long border with Myanmar.
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The Indo-Myanmar border was sealed on April 17 for 48 hours due to the Lok Sabha elections.
Polling for the lone Lok Sabha seat in Mizoram was held on April 19.
Residents of border villages on both India’s Mizoram and Myanmar sides protested on April 19 at the Indo-Myanmar friendship gate in Zokhawthar village in east Mizoram’s Champhai district as the border was allegedly closed even after polling was over.
The residents have demanded the authorities to open the friendship gate or the border.
Assam Rifles said in a statement issued recently that after consultation with local leaders, civil society organisations and village council leaders the friendship gate was opened from April 20 till April 30 for the movement of people requiring medical attention, essential food items and medicines.
The border will be sealed again from May 1 to prevent any cross-border activities, the statement also said.