Intervene in lifting economic blockade, Mizoram tells Centre

The Mizoram Government has sought the Centre’s intervention in lifting the “economic blockade” staged by the people of Barak Valley in Assam, following the bloody clash on Monday, on the inter-state boundary, which claimed seven lives, including six of Assam Police personnel. Over 50 persons were injured in the clashes.

Mizoram Home Secretary Lalbiaksangi wrote to his counterpart at the Centre, Ajay Kumar Bhalla that National Highway 306 has been blocked in Assam since July 26. National Highway 306 is the state’s lifeline that connects the state to the rest of the country.

Lalbiaksangi wrote, “The blockade is adversely affecting the livelihood of the people of Mizoram. Movement of vehicles along other routes connecting Mizoram and Assam has also been blocked inside Assam.

“It has also been reported that unknown miscreants from Assam have destroyed and removed railway tracks at Mohammedpur and Ramnathpur railway stations in Assam’s Hailakandi district, the only railway line connecting Bairabi railway station in Mizoram’s Kolasib district,” the letter read. Stating that national highways and railway lines are owned and managed by the central government, the letter stated that no state agency or entity or general public has the right to block them and restrict the movement of people and goods passing through national highways and railroads.

“In this regard, it is requested that the Government of India may kindly intervene and instruct the Government of Assam to take necessary action for the immediate removal of the blockade so as to ensure resumption of the movement of goods and passengers along the national highway and railway line,” the letter said. It mentioned that a “state-sponsored” economic blockade was earlier imposed by the people of Assam for nearly a month from October 17 to November 11 last year in the wake of a border standoff, which had seriously and adversely affected the livelihood of the people of Mizoram, resulting in various hardships.

“It is reported with serious concern that Assam has been indulging in the practice of imposing economic blockade merely because of the fact that the main supply routes i.e the national highways and railway lines are passing through the state. Incidents like this have occurred numerous times in the past in connection with other incidents,” the letter stated.