Correspondent
Mizoram border
AGARTALA, Feb 26: Tension ran high along the Tripura-Mizoram border after security personnel from the neighbouring State prevented a Forest Department team from establishing a check post at Kanmon, a border village under the Kanchanpur subdivision of North Tripura.
A Forest Department team led by a Deputy Collector and Magistrate (DCM) had to beat a hasty retreat following strong opposition from the India Reserve Battalion (IRBn), Mizoram, sources said.
Acting on specific inputs about rampant smuggling of stones and timber from the Jampui Hills under the Kanchanpur subdivision to Mamit district of Mizoram, the Forest Department team had gone to Kanmon to erect a check post on Tuesday. As the team put up a signboard, a contingent of the IRBn, Mizoram, rushed there and opposed setting up of any office of the Tripura Government, claiming that Jampui is a part of Mizoram.
As the IRBn personnel stood their ground, the DCM of the Kanchanpur subdivision, Hamendra Paul, and Forest Ranger Bibrata Marak had to return to Kanchanpur.
“The matter will be brought to the notice of the higher authorities. A check post is necessary to stop illegal transfer of stones and valuable timber from Jampui Hills,” said a senior subdivisional officer today.
It has been reported that sections of Mizo youths regularly visit border villages on the Jampui Hills and terrorise the residents there to obey the dictates of the Mizoram Government. They also claim that Jampui Hills is a part of greater Mizoram.
