Ready to withdraw FIR against Assam CM: Mizoram govt
The Mizoram government is ready to withdraw the FIR filed against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Chief Secretary Lalnunmawia Chuango said on Sunday. Even Chief Minister Zoramthanga did not approve the inclusion of Sarma's name in the FIR, he said. "In fact, our chief minister did not really approve of mentioning the name of the Assam chief minister in the FIR. He suggested to me that we should look into it," he told reporters.
Chuango said that he will discuss the matter with police officials concerned and remove the name of the Assam chief minister if there is no legal validity to substantiate the allegations against him.
"I will hold discussion with the police officer who filed the FIR, and if there is no legal fit, we would like to remove the name of Assam chief minister from the FIR," he said, adding that he was unaware of the development when the criminal case was filed against Sarma.
The chief secretary, however, did not mention whether the cases filed against six Assam officials and 200 unidentified police personnel will be withdrawn.
Meanwhile taking to Twitter, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said, "Our main focus is on keeping the spirit of North-East alive. What happened along the Assam-Mizoram border is unacceptable to the people of both states. Honble CM @ZoramthangaCM had promised to call me post his quarantine. Border disputes can only be resolved through discussion."
The Mizoram Police booked Sarma, four senior Assam Police officers and two officials on different charges, including 'attempt to murder', 'criminal conspiracy' and 'assault'.
The FIR was registered at the Vairengte police station by its officer-in-charge Lalchawimawia on July 26 soon after the violent clash with the Assam Police.
At least seven people from Assam, including six police personnel, were killed in the violence amid the border dispute between the two Northeastern states.
The four senior Assam Police officers named in the FIR are Inspector General of Police (IGP) Anurag Aggarwal, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Cachar Devojyoti Mukherjee, Cachar's Superintendent of Police Cahndrakant Nimbalkar, and Officer-In-Charge of Dholai Police Station Sahab Uddin.
Cachar Deputy Commissioner Keerthi Jalli and Cachar Divisional Forest Officer Sunnydeo Chaudhary were also booked.
Besides, the Mizoram Police also registered criminal cases against 200 unidentified personnel of the Assam Police.
The four senior Assam Police officers and two officials were asked to appear before the investigating officer at the Vairengte police station on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Assam Police also summoned Mizoram's Rajya Sabha MP K Vanlalvena and six others officials, including Kolasib's Deputy Commissioner H Lalthlangliana and Superintendent of Police Vanlalfaka Ralte, for questioning on Sunday.
Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot expresses concern over Assam-Mizoram border row
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday expressed grave concern over the row and the violence claiming a large number of lives and many people injured.
"The conflict between Assam and Mizoram is a serious matter. For the first time in the history of the country, a state has issued a travel advisory for its residents not to travel to another state," tweeted Gehlot.
The Minister was deeply saddened by the FIR filed against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and four senior officers of the state police, and two more officials by the Mizoram Police.
"The NDA government should also take the citizen into confidence on why such situation suddenly happened after the visit of the Home Minister," he tweeted.
"The Central government should resolve the border issue as soon as possible through mutual dialogues of political parties and non-governmental organizations (NGO)," the Minister added.
