GUWAHATI, Nov 8 - Mizoram on Sunday assured Assam that it will withdraw its forces from the tense inter-state border areas, but Dispur said that even though it welcomed the decision, it was �waiting to see action on the ground�.
Mizoram made the offer during a video conference between the Chief Secretaries which was chaired by Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla.
Assam claims that Mizoram forces, including its IRB and Mizoram Police have been camping in various places inside Assam�s territory for nearly a month now, intermittently sparking tension in the inter-state border areas in the Barak Valley.
Sources said Mizoram intends to deploy Central forces � BSF � to replace its men in the areas which it claims as �disputed�.
�As of now, their (Mizoram�s) forces are stationed at five locations inside Assam�s territory in the two districts of Cachar and Karimganj. We have not seen any sign of withdrawal till (Sunday) evening,� DIG (Southern Range) Dilip Kumar Dey said over phone.
In Cachar district, Mizoram forces are stationed at three locations. Over two dozen personnel have built bunkers at Lailapur area, which, according to Assam, is 3 km inside the boundary. Similarly, Mizo forces have occupied a forest village at Khulichera area and were camping in bamboo sheds 2 km inside the inter-state boundary. At Dholakhal, Mizoram personnel have occupied the school building where a blast had taken place on Saturday, according to a senior Forest department official monitoring the situation.
�Mizoram has made an offer that it will withdraw their forces in a graded manner. We welcome the decision but at the same time, we are awaiting action on the ground. We are monitoring the situation... the occupation of Assam�s territory by personnel of the neighbouring state has been an eyesore,� a senior Home department official told The Assam Tribune.
The official, however, added that the situation in the inter-state border area was calm since Saturday and no fresh incident was reported after the blast at a school building.
Residents of Lailapur village and nearby areas are on an economic blockade since October 28, demanding the withdrawal of the Mizo forces.
PTI adds: Meanwhile, addressing the press after the meeting chaired by the Union Home Secretary, Mizoram Chief Secretary Lalnunmawia Chuaungo said a unanimous decision was taken that Mizoram will withdraw its forces from the disputed areas and the blockade on NH-306 on the Assam side will be lifted.
Chuaungo said the main agenda of the chief secretary-level meeting was to find a short-term solution � withdrawal of forces and lifting of the blockade. �We will pull out a part of our forces to deploy BSF personnel in the disputed areas. The blockade in Assam will also be lifted and traffic movement is likely to resume on Sunday evening or Monday,� he said.
Chuaungo said the Centre was keen on resolving the inter-state dispute between Mizoram and Assam, and is constantly in touch with both the governments. Three companies of the Border Security Force (BSF) arrived in the state on Saturday, he said. One company and two platoons of BSF will be deployed at Vairengte, two platoons at Saihapui V village in Kolasib district and one company at Thinghlun village in the Mamit district.
However, a section of the state forces will remain deployed on the disputed areas to maintain peace among the Mizo people, he said.
GUWAHATI, Nov 8 - Mizoram on Sunday assured Assam that it will withdraw its forces from the tense inter-state border areas, but Dispur said that even though it welcomed the decision, it was �waiting to see action on the ground�.
Mizoram made the offer during a video conference between the Chief Secretaries which was chaired by Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla.
Assam claims that Mizoram forces, including its IRB and Mizoram Police have been camping in various places inside Assam�s territory for nearly a month now, intermittently sparking tension in the inter-state border areas in the Barak Valley.
Sources said Mizoram intends to deploy Central forces � BSF � to replace its men in the areas which it claims as �disputed�.
�As of now, their (Mizoram�s) forces are stationed at five locations inside Assam�s territory in the two districts of Cachar and Karimganj. We have not seen any sign of withdrawal till (Sunday) evening,� DIG (Southern Range) Dilip Kumar Dey said over phone.
In Cachar district, Mizoram forces are stationed at three locations. Over two dozen personnel have built bunkers at Lailapur area, which, according to Assam, is 3 km inside the boundary. Similarly, Mizo forces have occupied a forest village at Khulichera area and were camping in bamboo sheds 2 km inside the inter-state boundary. At Dholakhal, Mizoram personnel have occupied the school building where a blast had taken place on Saturday, according to a senior Forest department official monitoring the situation.
�Mizoram has made an offer that it will withdraw their forces in a graded manner. We welcome the decision but at the same time, we are awaiting action on the ground. We are monitoring the situation... the occupation of Assam�s territory by personnel of the neighbouring state has been an eyesore,� a senior Home department official told The Assam Tribune.
The official, however, added that the situation in the inter-state border area was calm since Saturday and no fresh incident was reported after the blast at a school building.
Residents of Lailapur village and nearby areas are on an economic blockade since October 28, demanding the withdrawal of the Mizo forces.
PTI adds: Meanwhile, addressing the press after the meeting chaired by the Union Home Secretary, Mizoram Chief Secretary Lalnunmawia Chuaungo said a unanimous decision was taken that Mizoram will withdraw its forces from the disputed areas and the blockade on NH-306 on the Assam side will be lifted.
Chuaungo said the main agenda of the chief secretary-level meeting was to find a short-term solution � withdrawal of forces and lifting of the blockade. �We will pull out a part of our forces to deploy BSF personnel in the disputed areas. The blockade in Assam will also be lifted and traffic movement is likely to resume on Sunday evening or Monday,� he said.
Chuaungo said the Centre was keen on resolving the inter-state dispute between Mizoram and Assam, and is constantly in touch with both the governments. Three companies of the Border Security Force (BSF) arrived in the state on Saturday, he said. One company and two platoons of BSF will be deployed at Vairengte, two platoons at Saihapui V village in Kolasib district and one company at Thinghlun village in the Mamit district.
However, a section of the state forces will remain deployed on the disputed areas to maintain peace among the Mizo people, he said.
