Last Updated on November 12, 2021 12: 07am
The probe against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma will not be pursued as a goodwill gesture to de-escalate tension between Mizoram and Assam over-inter boundary, a police officer said on Monday.
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Kolasib Superintendent of Police (SP) Vanlalfaka said that the FIR against Sarma has not been actually withdrawn but probe against him would not proceed.
“Though the case against Assam Chief Minister has been taken up by the state police as it was cognizable offence and the FIR not exactly withdrawn, no probe will be pursued against him as a goodwill gesture to promote peace,” he said.
The Assam Chief Minister has never been summoned for a grill even before, he said.
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Also read: Eight areas along Assam-Mizoram border declared ‘no drone zone’ by Kolasib district administration
However, cases against other six officials and unidentified 200 police personnel of the neighbouring state will be pursued, he said.
Earlier on Sunday, Mizoram Chief Secretary Lalnunmawia Chuango had said that the government was ready to withdraw the FIR filed against Sarma if there is no legal validity to prove his offences.
Even Chief Minister Zoramthanga disapproved of naming Sarma among other officials in the FIR, which was filed at Vairengte police station on July 26, he had said.
Sarma also on late Sunday announced that he directed his policemen to withdraw the FIR filed against Mizoram Rajya Sabha member K. Vanlalvena as a goodwill gesture following discussion with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and his Mizoram counterpart Zoramthanga.
“I have noted statements in media by Honble CM @ZoramthangaCM wherein he has expressed his desire to settle the border dispute amicably. Assam always wants to keep the spirit of North East alive……To take this goodwill gesture ahead, I have directed @assampolice to withdraw FIR against K. Vanlalvena, Hon’ble MP, Rajya Sabha from Mizoram,” Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said in a tweet.
The Assam chief minister and convener of NEDA, in which the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) in Mizoram is part of it, said that his government is committed to ensuring peace along the state border with Mizoram.
The Assam Police had earlier registered FIR against K. Vanlalvena, who has been accused of involving in a conspiracy leading to the bloody clash on July 26 following his abusive remarks.
The Assam police had also registered cases against six Mizoram officials, including Kolasib Deputy Commissioner H. Lalthlangliana and SP Vanlalfaka Ralte, who were summoned for questioning on Sunday.
Also read: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma directs Assam Police to withdraw FIR against Mizoram MP K Vanlalvena
The Mizoram police on their part also booked Sarma and six other officials, including Assam Inspector General of Police (IGP) Anurag Aggarwal, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Cachar Devojyoti Mukherjee, Cachar Superintendent of Police Cahndrakant Nimbalkar and Cachar Deputy Commissioner Keerthi Jalli.
They were charged under different sections of the IPC, including “attempt to murder” and “criminal conspiracy.”
Besides, unidentified 200 Assam police personnel were also named in the FIR.
In fact, the FIR was filed late on July 26 soon after the gunfight between police forces of the two states.
Also read: Assam, Mizoram CMs to meet soon to discuss inter-state border dispute
The six Assam officials were summoned to appear before the investigation officer at Vairengte police station on Sunday.
Highly placed sources said that both sides did not honour the summons.