Assam defended issuing a travel warning to its citizens against visiting Mizoram today, claiming that individuals in the neighbouring state have advanced weapons that could prove hazardous given the tense relations between the two states. Last week, a long-running boundary dispute between the two sides erupted when six Assam police officers were murdered and dozens more were injured in crossfire between the two sides.
Assam’s Himanta Biswa Sarma administration asked residents not to travel to Mizoram on Thursday. The move drew widespread condemnation from a variety of quarters.
Mr Sarma defended his government’s decision to issue such an advise today, saying, “Civilians in Mizoram go around with AK-47s and sniper weapons.”
Even after the shooting event, according to the warning, “Certain Mizo civil society, student, and youth organisations are always making provocative statements about Assam and its people. Many individuals are heavily armed with automatic guns, according to video footage available with the Assam Police Department “.
The Congress, in response to Assam’s move, called it a “embarrassing day” for the country, saying it was a “embarrassing day” for the country because one state had to issue a warning to its citizens not to travel to another state.
“North-east India will always be one,” Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga said in response to Assam’s recommendation. Non-residents of Mizoram will not be restricted from visiting via the state’s Kolasib district, which borders Assam’s Cachar, he said.
Meanwhile, the Zoramthanga government claimed to have proof that the Assam police were the ones who started the violence. It questioned how such an occurrence could occur only two days after a fruitful discussion with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the border issue.
