Guwahati, Aug 22: The Kolasib Deputy Commissioner (DC) of northern Mizoram district that shares border with southern Assam’s Barak Valley wrote to Hailakandi DC alleging Assam Police of stealing construction materials from Mizoram.

In his letter to Hailakandi DC on Saturday, Deputy Commissioner of Kolasib, H Lalthlangliana alleged that the police had on August 20 entered Mizoram territory in Zophai area under Bairabi sub division where a bridge construction is going on and stole construction materials.

“Here, Assam Police created problems for the workers on the site and even stole some construction materials including pieces of iron rods, etc. A Police case against theft of construction materials has been filed against them at Bairabi Police Station,” Lalthlangliana said in his letter to Hailakandi DC, Rohan Jha.

He also mentioned that he had conveyed the same message to Jha over phone too.

He, however, said this incident may not be considered as boundary issue as it is an ongoing construction work for connecting road.

“However, Government Servant committing an act that can be interpreted as theft towards government property is very disappointing and considered very serious,” said Lalthlangliana.

An official reply from the Hailakandi Deputy Commissioner has not been issued yet.

Assam-Mizoram Border dispute

Three districts of Mizoram — Kolasib, Aizawl and Mamit — shares a 165-km-long border with three districts of Barak Valley — Hailakandi, Cachar and Karimganj, over which there are disputes in atleast five areas.

After Central Armed Police Forces were deputed in the disputed area between Lailapur of Cachar and Vairengte of Kolasib following the inter-state police clash in which 6 Assam Police died and about 60 injured, the disputes had of late shifted to Hailakandi that also shares borders with Kolasib.

Miscreants had bombed an empty school in the district, while Assam Police also engaged in alleged gun battles with those claimed to be Mizo civilians leading to a tense border situation.