The Union Home Minister Amit Shah's Visit to Aizawl
Dr Suwa Lal Jangu, Assistant Professor, Political
Science, Mizoram University, Aizawl
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has arrived in Aizawl to
preside over the handing-over ceremony of the Assam Rifles' operational office.
This operational command, currently situated in the heart of Aizawl, will be
relocated to Zokhawsang, which is 15 kilometres away. The Union Home Minister
is on a three-day visit to Assam from March 14 to 16. At the invitation of
Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma, he is expected to be in Aizawl around 2 PM on
Saturday, March 15, before returning to Guwahati the same day.
Unexpectedly, the Chief Minister travelled to New
Delhi on Wednesday and returned to Aizawl on Thursday. There are speculations
that the Ministry of External Affairs has summoned Lalduhoma to provide a
personal statement regarding a ceasefire he brokered between two Chin rebel
groups from Myanmar in Aizawl on February 26, which he did without the
permission of the Ministry of External Affairs.
During the event in Aizawl, Home Minister Amit Shah
emphasized that one of the top priorities of the Narendra Modi government is to
promote development in the northeastern states and to establish lasting peace
in the region. He stated that the relocation of the Assam Rifles reflects the
central government's commitment to fulfilling the aspirations of the local
population. This move is crucial for the development of both Mizoram and
Aizawl, a task that has been hindered for the past 35 years due to the local
topography and lack of suitable land.
Amit Shah remarked that the relocation decision
represents not just a significant action taken by the Narendra Modi government
for the benefit of Aizawl's residents, but also signifies the central
government's responsibility toward the Mizo people. He added that the BJP
government at the centre seeks to ensure security, peace, and beauty in
Mizoram, with the Prime Minister personally overseeing development projects in
the state.
On October 23, 2024, an agreement was signed between
the Mizoram state government and the Assam Rifles (AR) in New Delhi to move the
operational battalion of AR from Aizawl City to Zokhawsang by April 30 of this
year. However, the 23 Sector Headquarters (the administrative headquarters) of
the Assam Rifles will continue to operate in Khatla, along with its DIG
residence near the Raj Bhavan. The area that will be vacated following the
location of the operational command will be designated for public use under the
Transferred Land Restricted Use Act of 2022.
The Assam Rifles were established in Aizawl in 1925,
the same year the city was founded. They are the oldest paramilitary force in
India, originally raised in 1835 as the Cachar Levy Militia and adopting their
current name in 1917. Operating under the control of the Indian Army, the Assam
Rifles function under the Ministries of Home Affairs and Defence, with their
personnel recruited from the Indian Army.
The demand to relocate the operational command of the
Assam Rifles from Aizawl was first raised by the Mizo National Front (MNF)
government, led by Laldenga, in 1988, following a violent clash that resulted
in the deaths of a dozen people. In February 2019, Union Home Minister Rajnath
Singh instructed the Assam Rifles to move to a new site at Zokhawsang by May 31
of that year. However, the relocation process was delayed Due to a lack of
basic facilities at Zokhawsang. In April 2023, Amit Shah inaugurated the
construction of the new operational command complex of the Assam Rifles at
Zokhawsang. The 23 Sector Assam Rifles headquarters in Aizawl City houses two
cannons that date back to the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. The Aizawl Fort and
the Quarter Guards of the Assam Rifles were established in Aizawl between 1892
and 1897 at the HR Ground.
Residents of the city have voiced their concerns about
the operational command being located in the city centre, citing issues related
to urban expansion and various inconveniences. Additionally, this issue has
become a political topic, particularly for the MNF, which made the transfer of
the operational command a focal point in the 2018 and 2023 assembly elections.
Tensions have arisen between the central government and the previous MNF
administration regarding the Assam Rifles' relocation.
Recently, Mizoram social activist VL Thlamuanpuia
wrote to the Union Home Minister about the refugees in the state. He previously
met with Mizoram Governor Dr VK Singh to discuss this issue, urging the
Governor to bring the matter to the attention of the central government and
advocate for policies that prevent cross-border crime while emphasizing the
need for stricter border controls. In his letter, Thlamuanpuia highlighted the
rising influx of Myanmar refugees in Mizoram, expressing concerns over its implications
for national security, demographic changes in the state, and the strain on
local resources.
India has always treated its neighbouring refugees
based on humanitarian values. In this letter, the government was requested to
immediately intervene to protect the interests of Indian citizens, defend
national security and maintain law and order in the border states. In fact, due
to the internal civil war going on in Myanmar, uncontrolled and unverified
Myanmar citizens are entering Mizoram. Thlamuanpuia wrote that the entry of
foreigners into India across the border is increasing the challenges and potential
security risks to border security. Due to the increase in incidents of
cross-border crimes, activities like human trafficking, illegal trade of
narcotics and psychotropic substances, and trade of explosive materials are
posing a serious threat to public safety and national security in the state.
Apart from this, the attention of the central government has been drawn through
the letter that fake documents are being used on a large scale by illegal
immigrants.
Thlamuanpuia has appealed to the Centre to implement a
strong authentication system to check and prevent fake Indian identity
documents, intensive monitoring and stringent legal mechanisms to prevent
illegal smuggling across the border. Through his letter, the social activist
urged the Union Home Minister to take a systematic and controlled policy and
measures to prevent illegal infiltration by strengthening security on the
Myanmar border, checking refugees, and documenting authentication and
management. On March 10, Chief Minister Lalduhoma told the AAssembly that US
and UK citizens come and go through Mizoram to train insurgents in Myanmar.
Lalduhoma said that about 2000 foreigners had come to Aizawl during June -
December last year. Most of them were US and UK citizens who were never seen on
the streets and roads of Aizawl and it is suspected that they would aim to go
to Myanmar.
According to Indian intelligence agencies, the
presence of US and Chinese personnel in Myanmar has led to an unexpected
increase in sensitive activities on the Indo-Myanmar border. Recently, the US
ambassador also suddenly came to Aizawl without prior information. Recently,
the Union Home Ministry re-imposed the Protected Area Regime in Mizoram,
Manipur and Nagaland bordering Myanmar. Lengpui Airport in Aizawl is the only
airport in the northeastern border states that is controlled by the Mizoram
state government instead of the Airport Authority of India (AAI). The central
government has increased surveillance on the Indo-Myanmar border area and is
closely watching the situation developing in the Indo-Myanmar border.
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