Border towns mourn the dead as they remain on the edge

GUWAHATI: The situation on the Assam-mizoram border remained tense as Assam declared a three-day mourning from Tuesday to condole the death of five policemen and one civilian in a border clash on Monday, while locals in the state’s Cachar district threatened an economic blockade of the neighbouring state.

During the three-day mourning period, the national flag will fly at half-mast and there will be no public entertainment, a notification issued by the Assam government said.

At least six persons were killed and 60 others, including a superintendent of police, injured in a bloody clash between the police forces of the two states on Monday.

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma paid floral tributes to the five slain policemen at Silchar. “We are deeply anguished by the loss of lives of our brave @assam police personnel. I visited Silchar SP office and paid floral tributes to the five martyrs and salute their sacrifice,” he tweeted.

“All lawful and operational measures would be taken to bring culprits to book and protect the integrity of the constitutional boundary of Assam,” Special DGP GP Singh tweeted, in an indication that Mizo policemen who fired at their Assam counterparts would be prosecuted.

Meanwhile, people of Kabuganj and Dholai area have “launched an indefinite blockade of roads” leading to Mizoram to prevent any vehicle from moving to the neighbouring state.