No Vehicular Movement From Assam Despite 'Lifting' Of Blockade, Say Mizoram Officials

Mizoram government had earlier written another letter to the Union Home Ministry complaining about the economic blockade in Assam and seeking the Centre's intervention to lift it.

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Aizawl: While Assam asserts that the "economic blockade" staged by certain groups on National Highway 306 has been lifted, officials in Mizoram maintain that no vehicle has entered the state from Assam since the boundary dispute.

"No vehicle has entered Mizoram from Assam from Monday to Saturday," Kolasib Deputy Commissioner H Lalthlangliana told news agency PTI.

Lalchawimawa, officer-in-charge of Vairengte police station that is located close to the border check-gate, reiterated the same adding that some trucks from Mizoram, however, have left for Assam.

"No vehicles have entered Mizoram from Assam till 3 pm on Saturday. However, few trucks from Mizoram have left for Assam," he said.

The officer further claimed that there are no curbs on traffic movement in Mizoram and vehicles are entering Assam every day after the clash. 

The situation along the inter-state border is under control and peaceful now, he added.

This development comes after the Mizoram government had on Friday written another letter to the Union Home Ministry complaining about the economic blockade in Assam and seeking the Centre's intervention to lift it.

Mizoram Home Secretary Lalbiaksangi had in his letter claimed that several vehicles carrying COVID-related materials like test kits were stranded on NH 306 in the Lailapur-Dholai area in Assam.

Mizoram also wanted the restoration of essential railway tracks damaged in three locations in Assam.

Assam, in response, claimed that no group is currently staging any blockade on NH 306 in the state.

Lalrozama, Deputy Commissioner of Mamit district that shares a border with Tripura, reported that essential commodities including fuel and LPG, are coming in from the neighbouring state.

A sizeable number of traders from Tripura have entered Mizoram on Saturday and the administration is making efforts to ensure smooth traffic movement between the two states, he added.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday asserted that a major breakthrough was made towards de-escalating tensions at the Assam-Nagaland border.

“In a major breakthrough towards de-escalating tensions at Assam-Nagaland border, the two Chief Secretaries have arrived at an understanding to immediately withdraw states' forces from border locations to their respective base camps,” he tweeted.