Mizoram lone Lok Sabha member C. Lalrosanga on Thursday said Assam Rifles has assured the Mizoram government to shift its battalion headquarters from Aizawl to Zokhawsang.
Zokhawsang is about 15 km on the eastern outskirts of the state capital, Aizawl.
Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!
There are 3 Assam Rifles battalions in Mizoram with their headquarters in Aizawl, Lunglei in the southern part of the state and in central Mizoram’s Serchhip town.
During a courtesy call with Mizoram Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati on Thursday, Lalrosanga informed the former that he had been already assured by the Director General of Assam Rifles to commence relocation of their base from the heart of Aizawl to Zokhawsang at the end of monsoon this year, said an official statement.
The MP believes that there will be no objection in shifting the Assam Rifles base as the proposed headquarters at Zokhawsang has been duly completed. it said.
Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!
Also read: Mizoram records 6 Covid19 death in 2 days; positivity rate stands at 13.46%
He urged the Mizoram Governor to intervene in the matter as he believed that the relocation of Assam Rifles battalion headquarters will solve the congestion problem in the state capital, the statement said.
In February 2019, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) directed the Assam Rifles to shift its battalion headquarters from Aizawl to Zokhawsang by May 31 that year.
Zokhawsang is located about 15 km on the eastern outskirt of Aizawl.
Also read: NIA conducts searches along Assam-Mizoram border
Despite the Centre’s directive, the country’s oldest paramilitary force has not shifted its base to the designated place till date.
The Assam Rifles headquarters has been located on a vast stretch of land in the heart of Aizawl since 1917.
The country’s oldest paramilitary force has bases at Zodin (Lammual) and Khatla area in Aizawl.
The erstwhile Mizo National Front (MNF) government, headed by former chief minister Laldenga, demanded the shifting of Assam Rifles’ headquarters to Zokhawsang in 1988 after the security forces killed seven civilians in a clash.
Earlier in March, chief minister Zoramthanga wrote to the Union Home Ministry, to expedite the relocation of Assam Rifles headquarters to Zokhawsang.
Meanwhile, Lalrosanga also briefed the governor about various projects that are pending with the Centre with a particular reference to the DoNER Ministry.
He informed Kambhampati that he has been pressing for the approval of the pending files with the concerned ministries.
He assumed that these projects will soon get approved since there are enough funds set aside for 10% Gross Budgetary Support of different ministries for the Northeastern states including CSS and CS.
The Mizoram Governor lauded the MP for his efforts and asked him to utilize his MP fund to the optimum for the development of the state.
He also urged Lalrosanga to find out the possibility for the inclusion of Mizo language in the 8th schedule.
Among others, the two have also discussed the need for expediting the completion of Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project, the Indo-Myanmar bilateral project to connect West Bengal’s Kolkata with Northeast India via Sittwe seaport in Myanmar’s Rakhine.