Helpline To Curb Non-Mizo Harassment, Assures Mizo CM

Aizawl, Sep 10 : Mizoram government would start a four digit helpline to counter alleged atrocities on the non-tribal communities by various Mizo organizations in recent times, stated Lal Thanhawla, the Chief Minister.

He further said, from now onwards only the state police would check the documents like Inner Line Permit (ILP) of the non-Mizo and organizations like YMA MBO would not be allowed to verify the papers.

A delegate from Barak Valley met Lal Thanhawla this week in Delhi and apprised him about the recent incidents where non-Mizo, particularly Bengali speaking Muslims had been harassed and tortured by Mizo groups when the latter started verifying the trade licence and ILP of the former.

This had created much tension both in Mizoram and adjacent Barak Valley. Various organizations of Barak Valley had threatened road blockade to prevent transportation of essential commodities to the neighbouring state.

In this backdrop, a team led by Sharifujjaman, general secretary of the Northeast Congress Co-ordination Committee and representatives like Hafiz Rashid Choudhury, Sadhan Purkayastha, Kamaluddin Ahmed and others met the Mizoram Chief Minister and sought his intervention. Lal Thanhawla said, a good number of people, mostly minorities entered into Mizoram claiming themselves as residents of either Karimganj or Hailakandi.

Subsequent investigation revealed that the address they had provided were fake and they were actually Bangladeshi infiltrators. This had compelled the Mizo organizations to keep vigil on the movement of the non-Mizo. However, in no case they should take law in their own hands, Lal Thanhawla clarified.

The delegates from Barak Valley wondered how come the Mizo police allow the Bangladeshis to enter into their State without verifying the ILP which was issued by the Liaison Office in Silchar. They further requested the Chief Minister to adopt a rule for renewal of trade licence as some Mizo group in pretext of checking the trade licence harass the non-Mizo businessmen.

Lal Thanhawla said he would take up the matter. He further stressed upon the cultural exchange programme between Mizoram and Assam which would strengthen the bondage between the two neighbouring States. Sharifujjaman told The Sentinel from Delhi that they were hopeful the Chief Minister would definitely take some action regarding the matter.