Mizoram government on Friday imposed section 144 CrPC prohibiting assembly of five or more people in Phuldungsei Zampui and Zomuantlang villages and surrounding areas in Mizoram’s Mamit district.
A prohibitory order in this regard has been issued in view of the proposed construction of a temple by a local indigenous organisation of Tripura.
The prohibitory order, issued by Mamit district deputy commissioner and district magistrate Dr. Lalrozama, said an organisation called Songrongma of Tripura was intending to construct a Shiv Mandir at Thaidawn tlang, which is located within Mamit district on October 19-20.
The proposed construction has been planned without the permission of the Mizoram government and is against the interest of the local community, which could harm peace and tranquility in the region, the order said.
“Assembly of five or more people is prohibited under section 144 of CrPC in the village and surrounding areas of Phuldungsei Zampui and Zomuantlang in Mamit district to prevent any untoward incident, which is likely to disrupt or adversely affect peace and tranquility prevailing in the region,” the order said.
The prohibitory order, which came into force from Friday until further order, will not be applicable in case of law enforcing agencies and any other persons who are lawfully engaged in the maintenance of law and order, it said.
Any violation of the order will be dealt with under section 188 of IPC.
Mizoram home secretary Lalbiaksangi on October 8 had written to his Tripura counterpart Barun Kumar Sahu asking him to intervene and issue necessary instructions to the concerned district administration for the immediate and indefinite stoppage of the proposed construction since any activities within the disputed interstate border can result in law and order problems.
The letter said a report has been received that a local indigenous organisation is attempting to construct a temple at the disputed interstate border at Thaidawn tlang near Phuldungsei in Mamit district and community work has been called on October 19-20 for the purpose.
The letter further said the Survey of India has been requested to facilitate a joint spot verification involving both the Mizoram and Tripura governments to resolve the inter-state boundary issue at the earliest.
Sahu refused to comment on the issue.
Mizoram shares a 66 km inter-state border with Tripura.
Phuldungsei, a village with a population of over 600, is located under Kanchanpur sub-divisional of Tripura, about 212 km from the state capital, Agartala and 104 km from west Mizoram’s Mamit town.
However, the eastern side of the village falls under Mizoram, according to Mizoram’s Mamit district administration.
Earlier in August, the Tripura government had claimed that names of 130 state residents living at Phuldungsei village were found in Mizoram’s electoral roll and were holding dual ration cards of both the states.
Dr. Lalrozama, however, said the 130 voters were Mizoram residents, who reside at the eastern side of Phuldungsei village, which is part of Mizoram’s territory from time immemorial.
He said the village also held village council elections during the state-wide rural and urban local body polls in August and the candidates were elected unopposed.