"Northeast India will always be one," Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga tweeted on Friday, 30 July, a day after Assam advised its people against travelling to the neighbouring state.
On Thursday, the Assam government had advised people from the state working or staying in Mizoram to 'exercise utmost caution'.
The travel advisory, signed by Assam Home Secretary M S Manivannan, says: "Given the prevailing situation, the people of Assam are advised not to travel to Mizoram as any threat to personal safety of people of Assam cannot be accepted."
WHAT DID ZORAMTHANGA SAY?
Zoramthanga's tweet on Friday included a notice from the Mizoram government's Department of Information and Public Relations that said that there is no restriction on the movement of non-residents of Mizoram travelling through the state's Kolasib district, bordering Assam's Cachar district.
"It is hereby notified that there shall be no restriction on the movement of non-residents within Kolasib district. Mizo residents are also advised to allow no disturbance and cause no harm to non-locals within Kolasib district in connection with the inter-state boundary issue at the Mizoram-Assam Border," the Mizoram government's notification dated 28 July stated.
The development came after five Assam Police personnel and a civilian were killed and at least 50 people were injured as policemen from the two states allegedly fired at each other on Monday, in an unexpected escalation of the border row.
The violence erupted two days after Home Minister Amit Shah met the chief ministers of all the northeastern states.
WHAT ELSE DID THE ASSAM ADVISORY SAY?
According to PTI, the advisory claimed that 'certain members of Mizo civil society, students and youth organisations are constantly issuing provocative statements against Assam and its people'.
It also said that video footage available with the Assam police shows that many Mizoram civilians remain deployed armed with automatic weapons at the border.
MEANWHILE
The two states also traded barbs over purported deployment of security forces along the interstate border on Thursday.
Cachar Guardian Minister Ashok Singhal claimed that Mizoram was yet to withdraw its police forces from the border even while Assam had.
Meanwhile, the Mizoram government countered this claim alleging that a large contingent of Assam Police personnel was being mobilised at the interstate border.
Mizoram Home Secretary Lalbiaksangi, in a letter to the Additional Secretary in-charge of the Northeast had written: “In view of the tense situation at present, mobilisation of a large contingent of police at the interstate border by Assam is quite objectionable, and will lead to apprehension and panic among the people on both sides.”
WHAT IS KOLASIB ADMINISTRATION SAYING?
The Kolasib administration, in a notice on Friday, said their will be no curbs on movement of non-residents through the district and has advised Mizo residents to "cause no harm to non-locals" within the district.
"It is hereby notified that there shall be no restriction on the movement of Non-Residents of Mizoram traveling through Kola’s District. Mizo residents are advised to allow no disturbance and cause no harm to Non-Locals within Kolasib District in connection with the inter-state boundary issue at Mizoram-Assam border."The Kolasib administration
Further, the administration has listed the contact details of Executive Magistrate, Sub Divisional Police Officer and Deputy Superintendent of Police for non-residents to reach out, in case of any problem.
(With inputs from PTI)
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