In a letter to the deputy commissioner of Mamit district (Mizoram) neighbouring Assam, a Sangram committee of Cheragi gaon panchayati and ward no 6 of Pathakhori GP (both under Ratabari police station under Karimganj district), voiced the people’s grievances over “deprivation and negligence on modern basic human development” by the Assam state government and prayed the Mizoram government to take necessary steps to include them under Mizoram.
According to the letter, carbon copied to the home minister and the chief minister of Mizoram, the President of India, the Prime Minister of India, and all presidents of major NGOs in Mizoram, the two gaon panchayats comprise of 56 villages with a total population of 45,000, including 15,000 voters, belonging to different communities like Bengali, Muslim, Manipuri, Bihari and tribals. The area had been declared disputed area by then Karimganj DC and Mamit DC in the year 1995-1996, and this could be the reason why it has been totally neglected by the Assam government, the letter said.
“The people are deprived of basic human amenities like road communication, schools, colleges, hospitals, electricity, water supply, etc. The people have been extremely suffering physically, economically, politically, educationally etc,” the memorandum said. The letter, signed by Abhimanya Singh, president of the Sangram committee, accused the Assam government of turning a deaf ear to their repeated cries for help. “All matters had been brought to the notice of high authorities in the Assam government, including the chief minister and the governor. However, unfortunately, no positive measures have been taken to solve our problems,” said the letter. “While our great nation India has attained its 65th anniversary of Independence and our leaders are announcing developments, our sufferings know no bounds,” it said.
The memorandum concluded that the people of the area have no other option than to look up to Mizoram as their saviour to lift them up from their “deadly valley” and take them up to the “hill of peace, development and harmony.” Mizoram has a long-standing border dispute with Assam and it has been a major political issue since Mizoram was upgraded to a statehood, from Union Territory status, in 1987.
The Congress government has recently formed a five-member committee to resolve the boundary dispute. An official said area in Karimganj district, falls under the disputed area. Confirming that he had received the letter, Mamit district deputy commissioner Rodney Lalrinmawma, told the Seven Sisters Post on Tuesday that he was yet to put up the file to higher authorities. “As the issue concerns border dispute between the two states, it has to be discussed in the chief ministerial level,” he said.