Assam Police "Stole" Bridge Construction Material In Border Area: Mizoram

With central forces now guarding the disputed area between Cachar and Kolasib, the Assam-Mizoram border dispute has shifted to Hailakandi-Kolasib.

Mizoram has accused the Assam police of "stealing" construction material in Kolasib district which shares the border with the neighbouring state's Hailakandi. A case has been filed in the matter, officials have said. The incident took place on Friday after the Assam police personnel entered Mizoram's Zophai area in Kolasib's Bairabi subdivision, where a bridge is being built, District Deputy Commissioner H Lalthlangliana has informed Rohan Jha, his Hailakandi counterpart. "Assam police created problems for the workers on the site and even stole some construction materials, including pieces of iron rods...A police case of theft of construction materials has been filed against them at the Bairabi Police Station," Mr Lalthlangliana has said in a letter written yesterday to Mr Jha. He has also conveyed the information over a phone call, officials said. Three districts of Mizoram -- Kolasib, Aizawl, and Mamit -- share a 165 kilometre border with three of Assam's in the Barak Valley -- Hailakandi, Cachar, and Karimganj. The border is disputed in at least five spots.