As many as six Assam police personnel have died in an exchange of fire with their Mizoram counterparts, said Assam BJP MLA Kaushik Rai on Monday.
Rai, who visited the Silchar Medical College where the injured are admitted said that at least 40 people were injured including three to four civilians. "40 people injured including 3-4 civilians. As per doctors, 6 policemen have died. The Chief Minister has directed state minister Pijush Hazarika to visit the border area," said the BJP MLA.
However, according to Assam minister Parimal Suklabaidya, around 80 people were injured in the firing from the Mizoram's side.
"6 Assam police personnel have died and around 80 people have been injured in the firing. There was no firing from our side. Firing from the Mizoram side was similar to that by the British at Jallianwala Bagh," said Suklabaidya.
The clash between the two states place after union home minister Amit Shah returned from Meghalaya by completing his two-day visit to the region during the weekend where he held a closed-door meeting with chief ministers of the northeast states.
A war of words ensued between Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga and his counterpart from the neighbouring state Himanta Biswa Sarma after the clash which led the home minister to intervene.
A clipping shared by Zoramthanga on twitter showed police trying to stop a clash among men armed with sticks.
In reply to the tweet, Assam police said miscreants from Mizoram were indulging in stone-pelting and attacking Assam government officials stationed at Lailapur to protect Assam's land from encroachment.
Sarma also replied and shared a clipping and said a superintendent of police from Mizoram was asking Assam's officials to withdraw from their post, failing which civilians from the neighbouring state would not stop the violence. He too sought immediate intervention of Shah and the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). "How can we run a government in such circumstances?" Sarma wrote.
Soon after, Zoramthanga wrote to Sarma, "After a cordial meeting of CMs (chaired) by Shah, two companies of Assam Police with civilians lathi-charged and tear-gassed civilians at Vairengte Auto Rickshaw stand inside Mizoram today. They even overrun CRPF personnel/Mizoram Police."
Zoramthanga shared another video with which he wrote that an innocent couple were "manhandled and ransacked by thugs and goons" on their way back to Mizoram via Cachar in Assam. "How are you going to justify these violent acts?" he wrote.
On Saturday, Zoramthanga said border disputes in the northeast are a legacy of the colonial era and lasting peace between states is important for further development of the region.
