Aizawl: The Mizo National Front (MNF), Mizoram’s main opposition party, has threatened legal action against individuals making what it described as false allegations that the party, while in power, had distributed land in central Aizawl which was previously held by Assam Rifles, to private individuals.
The warning comes amid a controversy surrounding land settlement certificates (LSCs) allegedly issued in areas previously held by the paramilitary force.
The controversy gained momentum after retired Assam Rifles officer Major Babie Lalduhsangi claimed in a recent interview with a YouTuber that more than 60 LSCs existed in areas formerly occupied by the force.
He further alleged that Lammual ground had been divided into four land settlement certificates issued in the names of private individuals before the land was handed over to the Mizoram government.
Assam Rifles had earlier occupied several strategically located areas in Aizawl, including Zodin Square or Lammual, Khatla near Lok Bhavan, Babutlang and Chite.
On March 15 last year, Union Home Minister Amit Shah attended a programme in Aizawl marking the relocation of Assam Rifles establishments from the state capital to Zokhawsang on the city’s eastern outskirts.
The relocation followed an agreement between the paramilitary force and the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) government, headed by Chief Minister Lalduhoma, in October 2024.
However, Assam Rifles continues to occupy its Sector Headquarters in Khatla and the Deputy Inspector General’s residence at Tuikhuahtlang, near Lok Bhavan.
Addressing a press conference in Aizawl, senior MNF leader and former revenue minister Lalruatkima rejected the allegations and warned that the party would approach the court if those making the claims fail to apologise and publicly clarify their statements.
He alleged that a political party was using the retired Assam Rifles officer to tarnish the image of the MNF and its previous government.
Lalruatkima maintained that the MNF government had taken steps to prevent private individuals from acquiring land within the Assam Rifles areas. In this connection, he cited the Mizoram (Restriction on Use of Transferred Land) Act, 2002.
He said the MNF Cabinet, at a meeting held on March 8, 2019, had decided to cancel existing land settlement certificates within the Assam Rifles areas and subsequently pursued the matter.
The former minister also disputed the claim that more than 60 land settlement certificates existed in the areas concerned.
According to Lalruatkima, a total of 54 LSCs had been recorded, of which four land leases were allotted for public purposes, including a village council court, a Public Health Engineering facility and a primary school.
On the relocation of Assam Rifles from central Aizawl, Lalruatkima said the previous MNF government had prepared a draft memorandum of agreement on December 17, 2019, and submitted it to the force’s 23 Sector Headquarters.
He said the negotiations involved several issues that required resolution to safeguard the interests of Mizoram and its people. He also referred to three pending court cases involving land settlement certificate holders and the Central Young Mizo Association.
Reiterating that the relocation of Assam Rifles from central Aizawl had long been a priority for the MNF, Lalruatkima asserted that no individual land settlement certificates had been allotted within the force’s areas during the party’s tenure.
He urged political parties to refrain from using individuals for political purposes and exercise caution while making statements on the sensitive land issue.
Lalruatkima also challenged Chief Minister Lalduhoma and retired Assam Rifles officer Lalduhsangi to disclose the names of the four individuals who allegedly hold land settlement certificates over Lammual ground.