Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga has said that the relation between Mizoram and Assam is gradually improving after the violent clash over the inter-state boundary on July 26, which resulted in the death of seven people, an Assembly official said.
During a zero-hour on Wednesday, Zoramthanga had informed the state assembly that his government is strongly disappointed with the Assam’s government order directing the state police to check all vehicles and passengers coming from Mizoram at ALL entry points in the name of anti-drug drive, the official said.
The Chief Minister had said that the Assam government on July 29 issued a travel advisory, cautioning Assam residents, against traveling to Mizoram.
The neighbouring state also issued another order to check all vehicles originating from Mizoram to verify that the vehicles are not transporting drugs in the light of the allegation that a high majority of drugs and narcotics were trafficked to Assam from Mizoram, he had said.
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“Disappointed with the order, we have written to the Union Home Ministry on July 30 to instruct the Assam government to lift it as a goodwill gesture to establish a good relationship,” Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga was quoted as saying by the official.
Though the Assam government had revoked the travel advisory on August 5, the order to thoroughly check vehicles entering from Mizoram has not been withdrawn till date, Zoramthanga had told the state legislature during zero hour on Wednesday.
He had said that his government has written at least three times to its Assam counterpart to revoke the order.
“Despite all the incidents that occurred in connection with the boundary, the relation between the two neighbouring states is improving,” the chief minister had said.
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On Wednesday, Congress Legislature Party (CPL) leader Zodintluanga Ralte had raised the issue in a “special mention” and termed the order “an outright violation of human rights”.
The Congress leader had also pointed out that a bus driver from Bilkhawthlir village named F. Lalrotluanga was arrested by Assam police on August 17 for allegedly transporting heroin while proceeding towards Assam.
He had claimed that the bus driver might be innocent as he has no record of drug smuggling in the past and that he was asked by an Assam trader to transport about 20 bags of dry areca nuts.
The drug must have been planted either by the trader of Assam police to frame Lalrotluanga, who is now incarcerated at Silchar district jail, he had said.
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Citing that Lalrotluanga’s case and the order of Assam government to check all Mizoram vehicles have to be challenged either in a high court or the Supreme Court, Ralte urged the state government to take immediate measures to prevent any further problem.
Replying to Ralte, the Chief Minister had said his government would make an all-out effort to free Lalrotluanga.
On checking order, he had said they have raised complaints several times as a result of which the order is not strictly implemented now although it has not been withdrawn.
He had said that his government would continue to take measures to ensure that the order is lifted.
He further said that his government believed that the neighboring state will make no further aggression and any attempt to breach law and order will be strongly dealt with.