Mizoram opposition Congress on Thursday slammed home minister Lalchamliana as ‘inept’ to look after law and order.
The Congress reproval came in the wake of the alleged assault on two personnel of Indian Reserve battalion by a group of people from a village on the Tripura-Mizoram border on Saturday.
A statement issued by the Congress held Lalchamliana responsible for the assault as the state police failed to maintain law and order situation but instead village level task forces were entrusted with guarding inter-state borders during lockdown to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus.
Also read: MZP demands assaulters be handed over to Mizoram
“Lalchamliana, who is also disaster management and rehabilitation minister, failed to carry out his utmost duty due to which the reputation of state police has been degraded,” Congress said in the statement.
The party also blamed the attack on IR personnel and asked the home minister to take measure for the immediate arrest of other people involved in the physical assault.
It also asked the home minister to ensure that the accused are handed over to and tried in Mizoram.
A group of people from Chakma dominated Kawnpui village in Tripura North district had allegedly assaulted two IR personnel from Mizoram, who were guarding the inter-state border to prevent cross border movement in a bid to contain the dreaded novel coronavirs spread on April 18.
Also read: Two Indian Reserve Battalion personnel assaulted by mob in Mizoram
Tripura police had arrested three people identified as Santilal Chakma (31), Bimal Chakma (19) and Mohanlal Chakma (27), all from Kawnpui village, in connection with the incident on April 19.
However, Santilal Chakma escaped during routine medical checkup and is still at large.
The two others accused were produced before a court in Tripura and released on bail on Tuesday.
Tension escalated on Monday when an empty farm house was set ablaze by unidentified persons.
The residents of Kawnpui alleged that it was perpetrated by the Mizos.
However, the Mizo communities of both Jampui hills in Tripura and Mizoram denied the allegation and alleged that the Chakma residents were playing a victim game to distort the image of Mizos.
Both the Mizoram and Tripura governments had sent additional deployment to defuse the tension from further escalation.
Police said that the situation was put under control and both the states police assisted by local volunteers are guarding the inter-state border amid lockdown.