Mizoram Chief Minister Pu Zoramthanga calls on Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, in New Delhi on February 26. (IANS Photo)
Newmai News Network
Aizawl | February 26
Stating that the State Government of Mizoram was not informed about the reported “military build-up” along the Myanmar-Mizoram border, the Zoramthanga Government has written to the Central Government complaining that the former was not taken into confidence by the latter in the matter.
It has been reported that there is deployment of a large number of Army and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) by the Central Government in villages along the Mizoram-Myanmar border without the Mizoram Government’s knowledge.
An official in the Mizoram Home department said that state Chief Secretary, Lalnunmawia Chuaungo, following the instruction of Chief Minister Zoramthanga, has written to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Defence Ministry informing them that the deployment of additional forces in border villages along the Indo-Myanmar border in the pretext of “routine exercise” without informing the State Government of Mizoram is “against the norms”.
“The state government is of the view that law and order is a state subject and sending a large number of troops to Mizoram, the most peaceful state in the country, that also without informing the State Government is a clear violation of the spirit of federalism”, the official said.
“The MHA and the Defence Ministry were informed that they should at least send prior information to the State Government if security forces were sent to safeguard the border area even if they are not being deployed for a law and order problem”, he added.
Meanwhile, the People’s Representation for Identity and Status of Mizoram (PRISM), a corruption watchdog turned political party, has also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking clarification on the present “military build-up” in the southernmost part Mizoram i.e. Lawngtlai district. PRISM also urged Modi to “permanently” revoke the order giving a “sweeping power to Assam Rifles to arrest and search a place without a warrant in five northeastern states”, including Mizoram, which has been kept in abeyance.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, PRISM said Mizoram has six international border districts – Champhai, Serchhip, Lunglei, Saiha, Lawngtlai and Mamit--where there is neither disturbance nor law and order problem.
In a separate letter, PRISM also urged the National Human Right Commission (NHRC) to monitor the presence of large number of Army along the state’s border with Myanmar.
