Assam cops, forest staff not involved in Saipum incident, Lalduhoma informs House

Aizawl: Mizoram CM Lalduhoma on Thursday told the assembly that officials of Assam’s police and forest departments were not involved in the recent encroachment on land within Saipum village, where forest was cleared for jhum cultivation and tension flared along the inter-state border.The CM said the information was received on Wednesday and later verified. He said the encroachment was carried out by members of the Bru community from Bandarkhal village in Assam’s Cachar district.According to Lalduhoma, the headman of Bandarkhal village said around 30 Bru families from the village were involved in clearing the forest within Saipum village land. “They began clearing the forest since late Jan and early Feb,” the village headman was quoted as saying.

Lalduhoma said Bandarkhal village authorities had been instructed not to take further action as tensions could escalate. He added that Cachar SP had been informed about the incident and asked to take appropriate steps to prevent further tension. The SP, he said, has “promised to take immediate action.”The CM said the report was submitted by Kolasib deputy commissioner Robert C Lalhmangaiha and other officials, including SP Lalrinpuia Varte.

The land that was cleared lies near an abandoned Mizoram Police camp. The camp was vacated because of inaccessibility, and the area remained unattended, allowing people from Assam to clear the forest, the CM said.Leaders of Saipum village have urged the state govt to resolve the matter soon.