SILCHAR: Residents of Mizoram backed by police of the state began construction of the 2km road after stopping Assam from doing the same on Friday which was undertaken under PM Gram Sadak Yojana.
Residents of Assam villages on Sunday claimed that Mizos began the construction of the road from Khulicherra and Bagewala villages in Cachar district, 800 metres inside Assam. They have been using excavators to construct the road while Mizoram police have been guarding them from a distance.
Earlier, Assam authorities began construction of the road under PMGSY. However, Mizo residents obstructed the work and forced the workers to leave the place and abandon the construction. The police and forest officials led by superintendent of police (Cachar) Ramandeep Kaur on Friday rushed to the spot. However, they came back only after reviewing the situation.
“We are taking necessary measures in terms of security movement in the area,” the SP maintained. Amidst the obstructions, a camp has been constructed by the Mizo people at the last point of the construction which is well within the territory of Assam, Kaur said.
Last week, tension brewed after Mizos undertook construction of a bridge bordering Hailakandi district of Assam. Assam had asked the Mizoram government to stop the construction and maintain status quo. Both the state forces are now sitting in the bunkers as the situation remains tense at the border.
Tension between Assam and Mizoram escalated on July 26 after clashes erupted between police on either side of the interstate border at Lailapur in which six Assam police personnel were killed and more than 50 injured. On August 5, Assam and Mizoram signed a joint declaration to find a lasting solution to the border conflict.
