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Tag: Himanta Biswa Sarma

  • Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma invites ULFA (I) chief for peace talks

    By PTI

    GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday appealed to ULFA (I) chief Paresh Barua to come to the negotiating table.

    He also expressed his gratitude to COVID warriors for their unrelenting war on the pandemic.

    Speaking at the state function to mark the 75th Independence Day, the chief minister said that Assam is celebrating the occasion without any bandh called by militant groups, including ULFA, for the first time in decades.

    “On behalf of the people of Assam, I appeal to Paresh Barua to come forward for dialogue. Let no youth of our state be killed anymore,” he said.

    The ULFA (I), which had been calling for Assam Bandh on Independence Day and Republic Day for several decades, refrained from the practice for the first time this year.

    The outfit has also declared a unilateral ceasefire since May this year in view of the pandemic situation.

    The chief minister had earlier urged Barua to come for peace talks after assuming power in May this year.

    Sarma also expressed gratitude to all COVID warriors, including doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians and ambulance drivers, for working tirelessly in the pandemic.

    Noting that COVID vaccination for all eligible people was progressing well, he said that 1.

    5 crore doses will be administered in the next one week.

    He congratulated boxer Lovlina Borgohain for her Olympic bronze medal and said that her success is an inspiration for all.

    The chief minister paid tributes to the six Assam Police personnel killed in violence along the inter-state border with Mizoram on July 26.

    He said that the Assam government is committed to resolving the border disputes without compromising with the state’s constitutional boundary.

    Sarma said that the Assam Cattle Preservation Bill, 2021, which was passed by the assembly on Friday, shows the state government’s resolve to protect the cultural ethos of the state.

    He said the government is committed to eradicating poverty through population control and will carry on its war against drugs, human trafficking and other social menaces.

    The chief minister announced that freedom fighters’ pension issued by the state government will be increased to Rs 36,000 at par with the central remuneration and state honours will be accorded to all these former revolutionaries during their last rites.

  • Last remaining KNLA militants surrender in Assam: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

    By PTI

    GUWAHATI: The last remaining militants of Kuki National Liberation Army (KNLA) surrendered in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district on Friday, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

    Twenty-seven insurgents of the outfit surrendered with 17 firearms, including four assault rifles, five pistols and six country-made guns before the police in Karbi Anglong, he said.

    “Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modiji and Home Minister Amit Shahji, we have had a major achievement towards permanent peace in Assam. Last remaining cadres of UPRF/KNLF (KUKI) surrendered & handed over 17 weapons including 4 assault rifles to DIG & SP, Karbi Anglong,” the chief minister tweeted.

    KNLA militants have been surrendering in small numbers for the last one year.

  • Assam’s border dispute with Arunachal is at 1,200 places, Himanta tells Assembly

    Express News Service

    GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday disclosed that the state’s boundary dispute with Arunachal Pradesh was at 1,200 places.

    “Our informal talks on the boundary issue have started with the Arunachal government. We have 12 areas of differences with Meghalaya but the dispute with Arunachal is at 1,200 places,” Sarma told the Assembly.

    “But as we (both states) have matured now, we know who and which communities are living where. We will try to solve the problem,” the CM said.

    There was a clear delineation of the boundary when Uttarakhand and Jharkhand were created as states. However, when Mizoram, Arunachal, and Nagaland were created, it was left to certain situations and the ambiguity remained, leading to the disputes, he said.

    Cases pertaining to Assam’s boundary dispute with Nagaland and Arunachal are pending in the Supreme Court. Sarma said resolving the dispute with Nagaland would be very difficult.

    “It cannot be resolved at the government level. We will move forward as directed by the Supreme Court. But both states have an understanding of the maintenance of the status quo. We will not encroach upon each other’s territory,” the CM said.

    ALSO READ |  Arunachal political parties to work as a team to find permanent solution to boundary dispute with Assam

    Talking about Assam’s border dispute with Meghalaya, he said the two states did not have any historical or constitutional clash.

    “There are 12 points of differences and we will first try to resolve the dispute in six areas. The dispute there is over one-two small villages. The people cast their votes in both states. If they have their houses in Meghalaya, they have their agricultural fields in Assam and they cannot say in which state they will remain,” Sarma said.

    The two states have already decided to constitute three regional committees each, headed by a Cabinet minister. They will lay focus on historical facts, ethnicity, administrative convenience, the willingness of the people, and their overall sense of sentiments and contiguity of the land which falls under the areas of differences while trying to solve the problem.

    Sarma gave a historical perspective of the Mizoram boundary with Assam.

    “In 1870, the British administration had given the forest (now a reserve forest) to the Lushai Hills (present-day Mizoram). The forest was bifurcated in 1932 with one portion going to Assam and the other to Mizoram…

    “When Mizoram was made a Union Territory in 1972, it was decided that the 1932 boundary will be its boundary. During the (signing of) Mizo peace accord, that very boundary was agreed to be made Mizoram’s boundary. Based on this boundary, Mizoram has created a state in 1987,” Sarma explained. 

  • PM Narendra Modi told me incidents like Assam-Mizoram border violence pain the country: Himanta Biswa Sarma

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had conveyed to him that incidents like the recent violence along the Assam-Mizoram border give pain to the country.

    Addressing a press conference here, Sarma said he was in regular touch with the prime minister after the July 26 incident, giving him regular updates about the prevailing situation.

    “The prime minister told me ‘Aisa hone se desh ko pida hote hain (The country is pained by such incidents),” he said.

    Five personnel of the Assam Police and a civilian were killed when Mizoram Police fired upon them following the border clashes.

    Sarma said that both the state governments were now talking to each other and working for peace and tranquillity.

    “We now need peace and healing. We need confidence building measures,” he said.

    Referring to the Assam-Meghalaya border situation, Sarma said both the states were talking to each other and resolving the issues.

    “Relations should not be spoiled for just 1 or 2 inches of land. After all these are Indian land,” he said.

    He said to resolve the issue of disputed territories, both Assam and Meghalaya have agreed to go by five principle – historical perspective, administrative convenience, contiguity of constitutional boundary and most importantly people’s wish.

    About the Assam-Nagaland border, Sarma said that it is also in the process of settlement.

    Asked about Nagaland’s commercial capital Dimapur’s status, he said Dimapur is Nagaland territory and those who live there are Nagas.

    “What will I do with Dimapur? People in Dimapur are Nagas. Why will they stay with us,” he asked.

  • Conviction rate low in charge-sheeted cases in Assam: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

    By PTI

    GUWAHATI: The rate of conviction in cases in which Assam Police filed charge-sheet before the court in the last five years has been very low as it lies in a range of 5.5 per cent and 12 per cent, the state Assembly was informed on Monday.

    The state, on the other hand, has reported a high number of cases of crime against women during the same period between 2016 to 2020, as per the information laid by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in the House.

    In reply to a question by Congress MLA Pradip Sarkar, Sarma said that the rate of conviction in cases where charge sheet was filed in courts was 5.5 per cent in 2020 as per provisional data.

    It was 6.7 per cent in 2019 and 5.9 per cent in 2018, while the figures were in double digits in the preceding two years – 12 per cent in 2017 and 11.7 per cent in 2016.

    The figures for the four years between 2016 and 19 are final.

    The reply was laid in the House in the name of the chief minister in his capacity as the home minister though he was not present on Monday.

    Sarma further informed the House that as per National Crime Records Bureau, Assam ranked sixth in the country in terms of the number of crimes against women from 2016 to 2019.

    The data for 2020 has not been published yet, he added.

    Altogether 65,845 cases of violence against women and minor girls have been registered in the state from 2016 till July 31, 2021, with charge sheets filed in 38,412 cases so far.

    Moreover, 16 government officials, including an IPS officer, have cases of alleged molestation of women registered against them in the state since 2016, Sarma said.

    He added that the state government has been taking various measures for controlling crime against women, including setting up of ‘Women Help Desk’ in 200 police stations in the state, forming a ‘Crime Against Women Cell’ under the CID and activating Anti Human Trafficking Unit and Special Juvenile Police Unit in all districts.

  • With supplies choked by Assam blockade, Mizoram asks people to curtail domestic consumption

    Express News Service
    GUWAHATI: With supplies choked due to an “economic blockade” imposed by organisations in Assam, Mizoram appealed to its citizens to curtail domestic consumption even as a SpiceJet flight dispatched 3,711 kg of cargo to Mizoram from Assam’s Silchar.

    The blockade has been imposed in all three districts of Assam’s Barak Valley — Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi. They share a 164.6 km border with Mizoram. National Highway 306, which traverses Cachar, is Mizoram’s lifeline.

    The Mizoram government said people had been advised to reduce domestic consumption in anticipation of the continuance of the problem.

    “Given the blockade and due to the fact that railway lines have been destroyed (in Hailakandi by the miscreants), there will certainly be some difficulties in getting essential and non-essential commodities in the coming days…

    “Under the circumstances and in anticipation of the problem, we have requested the people of the state not to hoard essential items and curtail domestic consumption. If we curtail it by a bit, then there will be enough for all for a longer time,” Mizoram’s Department of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Director Ramdinliani told The New Indian Express.

    ALSO READ | Mizo CM Zoramthanga asks police to withdraw FIR against Himanta, others

    She said although essential commodities were being brought from Tripura, the volumes of them were much less compared to what used to come before via Assam.

    Mizoram Health Minister R Lalthangliana urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to rescue the state from an impending health crisis.

    “Mizoram is under a serious crisis due to a blockade created by the Assam government. This has severely affected the availability of medicines required by patients who are in critical conditions and by those severely affected with Covid-19,” Lalthangliana said.

    He said in the aftermath of the July 26 border clash, the Assam government summoned all transporters in Guwahati to stop the transportation of goods to Mizoram due to “security concerns”.

    “This resulted in a complete halt of any type of goods coming to the state, including basic medicines, life-saving medicines and Covid-19 medicines. Even oxygen cylinders, oxygen plant materials, and Covid-19 test kits have been blocked,” the Minister said.

    The Silchar Airport tweeted: “On 02.08.2021, #AAI #SilcharAirport helped in dispatch of 3711 kgs of Cargo by @flyspicejet flight to Lengpui Airport, #Aizawl.” 

  • Mizo CM Zoramthanga asks police to withdraw FIR against Himanta, others  

    By Express News Service
    GUWAHATI: Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga on Monday directed the state’s police to withdraw the FIR filed against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and six senior officials of the police and administration.

    The decision followed the Assam government’s withdrawal of the FIR lodged against Mizoram MP K Vanlalvena. 

    “In order to build a conducive atmosphere for an amicable solution to the #MizoramAssamBorder dispute and to reduce the plight of suffering citizens, I have directed @mizorampolice to withdraw FIR dt. 26.07.2021 filed at Vairengte, Kolasib District, Mizoram against all the accused persons,” Zoramthanga tweeted.

    The six officials are Inspector General of Police (IGP) Anurag Agarwal, DIGP Debojyoti Mukherjee, Cachar Superintendent of Police Vaibhav Chandrakant Nimbalkar, officer-in-charge of Dholai police station Sahabuddin, Cachar District Magistrate Keerthi Jalli and Divisional Forest Officer Sunnydeo Choudhury. 

    They were accused of “attempt to murder and criminal conspiracy”. The FIR was lodged on July 26, the day the border violence occurred. 

    The FIR against the Mizoram MP was withdrawn earlier in the morning.

    Tweeting about it, Assam’s Special Director-General of Police GP Singh wrote, “Reference @assampolice Dholai PS Case of Cachar district against @mizorampolice and other unknown persons, action against Sri K Vanlalvena, Honble MP, Rajya Sabha from Mizoram has been abated.”

    He said this was done at the instruction of Sarma and in the interest of de-escalation of tension along the border. 

    Taking note of the statements in the media about Zoramthanga expressing desire to settle the border dispute amicably, Sarma said Assam was also committed to ensuring peace. To take the goodwill gesture forward, he directed the police to withdraw the FIR against the Mizoram MP.

    The Assam CM, however, said the cases against six accused Mizoram officials and other miscreants would be pursued. 

    The officials are Kolasib DM H Lalthlangliana, SP Vanlalfaka Ralte, Additional SP David JB, Vairengte SDO (Civil) C Lalrempuia, Additional SP of India Reserve Battalion Bruce Kibby and SDPO Thartea Hrangchal.

    Sarma had on Sunday said the July 26 incident would be investigated. He said the probe was needed as six persons had lost their lives and their families might want to know the truth — what exactly happened on that fateful day.

  • Assam to withdraw FIR against Mizoram MP Vanlalvena

    By Express News Service
    GUWAHATI: The Assam Police will withdraw the FIR lodged against Mizoram MP K Vanlalvena.

    Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma issued directions to the state police to withdraw the FIR.

    “I have noted statements in media by Honble CM @ZoramthangaCM wherein he has expressed his desire to settle the border dispute amicably. Assam always wants to keep the spirit of North East alive. We are also committed to ensuring peace along our borders…

    “To take this goodwill gesture ahead, I have directed @assampolice to withdraw FIR against K Vanlalvena, Honble MP, Rajya Sabha from Mizoram. However, cases against other accused police officers will be pursued,” the Assam CM tweeted.

    The Mizoram CM retweeted the tweet.

    The Assam Police had issued summons to six Mizoram officials, including Kolasib District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police, in connection with the July 26 violence on the interstate border. Similar summons were issued to six Assam government officers, including Cachar DM and SP, by Mizoram Police.

    The FIR against the MP was lodged after he had made an alleged incendiary statement that “If they come again, we shall kill them all.” The statement had reference to the border violence. 

  • Incidents at Assam-Mizoram border unacceptable, talk only solution: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

    By PTI
    GUWAHATI/AIZAWL: Six days after a violent clash between police forces of Assam and Mizoram claimed seven lives and injured over 50 people, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said such incidents along the inter-state border are “unacceptable” to people of both the states and advocated a resolution through talks.

    Assam Chief Minister Sarma, who has been charged with criminal conspiracy and attempt to murder in an FIR by Mizoram Police, also spoke of keeping alive the spirit of the North East in a twitter post.

    The tweet comes after Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to both Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Mizoram CM Zoramthanga telephonically earlier in the day to defuse the border tension between the two Northeastern neighbours.

    “Our main focus is on keeping the spirit of North-East alive. What happened along the Assam-Mizoram border is unacceptable to the people of both states. Honble CM @ZoramthangaCM had promised to call me post his quarantine. Border disputes can only be resolved through discussion,” Sarma said in his tweet.

    Despite an attempt by Shah to resolve the long standing border disuptes between Assam and its neighbours earlier this month through a meeting he chaired, at least six Assam Police personnel and one civilian were killed while defending a disputed boundary with Mizoram and more than 50 people injured, including the police chief of the district of Cachar.

    The Mizoram police had lodged an FIR against Sarma and six Assam officials under various charges, including charges of attempt to murder and criminal conspiracy, at Vairengte police station.

    The Assam Police has also issued summons to six officials of Mizoram government, including the deputy commissioner and superintendent of police of Kolasib district, and ordered them to appear at Dholai police station on Monday.

    However, on Sunday, the Chief Secretary of Mizoram has said the state’s chief minister had frowned on charges levelled against his Assam counterpart and indicated these are likely to be withdrawn.

    Despite an agreement hammered out on Wednesday night, by the Union home ministry to maintain calm on the border and to allow a neutral central police force to act as peace-keepers, the two states have continued to trade charges of reinforcing police pickets and of not refusing to honour the agreement which calls for pulling back forces from the border.

    Assamese local organisations which had soon after the clash announced an economic blockade of Mizoram have since lifted their `blokade’, but truckers afraid of possible violence have opted to either park their vehicles near the border in Cachar district’s Dholai or to circumvent the troubled boundary by taking a longer route through Tripura.

    Assam government on Thursday had also issued an unprecedented travel advisory asking people not to travel to Mizoram and advised people from the state working or staying there to  exercise utmost caution.

    Tension along the border with Mizoram in Cachar and Hailakandi districts of Assam have been escalating since October 2020 with frequent incidents of burning of houses and encroachment of land.

    The two states share a 164.6-km border between Assam’s Cachar, Hailakandi and Karimganj districts, and Mizoram’s Kolasib, Mamit and Aizawl districts.

    Both states have differing interpretations of their territorial border.

    While Mizoram believes that its border lies along an ‘inner line’ drawn up in 1875 to protect tribals from outside influence, Assam goes by a district demarcation done in the 1930s.

     

  • ‘Historic’: Assam, Nagaland agree to withdraw cops from two disputed border areas

    Express News Service
    GUWAHATI: To de-escalate tension, Assam and Nagaland on Saturday decided to withdraw their security personnel from their present locations at two disputed sites of the interstate border.

    Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma described the move as “historic”.

    The decision was made at a meeting, held between the chief secretaries of the two states, in Nagaland’s Dimapur town. There was a standoff going on between the police forces of the two states at the two sites.

    Assam’s position has been that the two areas fall under its Dessoi Valley Reserve Forest in Jorhat district while Nagaland asserts that they are parts of its Tsurangkong valley in Mokokchung district.

    A statement, signed jointly by the two chief secretaries, said both sides agreed that in order to maintain peace and tranquility in the areas, urgent and effective steps were required for defusing the standoff.

    “In this regard, it is decided by both sides that the security personnel of both states shall simultaneously move back from their present locations to their respective base camps. The simultaneous withdrawal of the security personnel shall begin immediately and shall be completed in the next 24 hours as far as possible,” the statement said.

    ALSO READ | Villagers hope boxer Lovlina Borgohain’s Tokyo Olympics medal will bring road, water supply

    According to the agreement, Nagaland and Assam will monitor the area by surveillance using UAV and satellite imagery in order to maintain status quo. The Superintendents of Police of Mokokchung and Jorhat shall ensure orderly withdrawal of their respective forces and shall be responsible for it in the instant case, the statement further said.

    ALSO READ| Northeast India will always be one: Mizoram CM Zoramthanga

    The Assam CM said it was a historic step and a major breakthrough towards de-escalating tension. He expressed gratitude to his Nagaland counterpart Neiphiu Rio for working with Assam in restoring peace on the border.

    “Assam is committed to ensuring peace along all its borders and strives for social and economic prosperity of the Northeast,” Sarma tweeted.

    Assam and Nagaland share a 512.1 km border and a case pertaining to their boundary disputes is pending in the Supreme Court. Assam also has border disputes with Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh, apart from Nagaland and Mizoram.