SILCHAR, Nov 8 - Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Legislative Assembly, Debabrata Saikia along with All India Mahila Congress president and former Silchar Member of Parliament Susmita Dev, North Karimganj Member of Legislative Assembly Kamalakshya Dey Purakayastha, former state ministers Siddeque Ahmed and Ajit Singh faced stern objection from the Mizoram forces while the Congress delegation visited the tension-afflicted Assam-Mizoram border on Sunday.
�This is Assam land. It is unfortunate that we have been asked to go back from our own territory,� Saikia said during the visit. On the other hand, expressing deep anguish at the state of affairs, Susmita Dev blamed the Government for its inaction in solving the issue. �Nothing has changed in the state. It is because of the silence of the State Government led by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal that stones were pelted at the people of Assam. The NEDA is actually North East �Disaster� Alliance and Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma steps in when elections are near. We will send the �marble stones� which were pelted at us today to the Chief Minister to make him realise the worsened condition of the people over here,� Susmita was quoted as saying.
It may be recalled that a few days ago former Katigorah MLA Ataur Rahman Majharbhuiya, former North East zonal chairman of Khadi and Village Industries Commission Sharif Uzzaman Laskar, CRPC Assam secretary-general Sadhan Purakayastha and others faced a similar reaction from the Mizoram forces at the border.
�We were asked to go back by the Mizoram forces keeping us at gun point,� alleged Sharif Uzzaman Laskar.
Later in a meeting with Cachar Deputy Commissioner Keerthi Jalli, Superintendent of Police BL Meena at the Deputy Commissioner�s office chamber, Debabrata Saikia placed some suggestions drawing attention of the administration. Saikia said that the Mizoram Government has set up BoPs inside Assam territory which should be taken immediate care of.
The Leader of the Opposition sought verification of the border �as encroachment has taken place within the Assam territory by Mizoram on the national highway beyond Vairengte�. He asked the administration to take steps for reconstruction of schools destroyed allegedly by Mizo miscreants.
Saikia underscored the need for intensifying patrolling by police personnel along the Assam-Mizoram border to instil confidence among the local residents.
He urged the administration to extend financial assistance to the injured persons and relief to the 22 families whose houses were gutted by miscreants. In this context, he suggested allocation under the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana to the affected families to build their dwelling units.
Saikia urged the administration to issue land pattas to the victimised persons.
He urged the state government to provide government job to the kin of the deceased person. The Leader of the Opposition also demanded compensation to the family from the Mizoram Government for the custodial death. �Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal should immediately speak to his Mizoram counterpart and the NEDA convenor must also intervene on the issue,� Saikia said.
Deputy Commissioner Jalli apprised the Leader of the Opposition about the slew of steps taken by the district administration and the state government, including setting up of three BoPs and regular meetings and communique with her Kolasib counterpart, besides interaction with the local people to bring back peace and tranquility along the inter-state border.
Superintendent of Police, Meena informed that a detailed report on the prevailing situation along the border has been sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
