Inner line reserved forest area belongs to Mizoram, says JAC

Aizawl, June 14 (zoramobserver.com): Leaders of Joint Action Committee on Inner Line Reserve Forest area on Wednesday said that the 509 sq.mile inner line reserved forest area along the Assam-Mizoram border originally belonged to Mizoram.

Speaking to reporters at a press conference here on Wednesday, JAC on Inner Line Reserve Forest chairman F Ngurbiakvela said the inner line reserved forest area originally belong to Mizoram since the British period and is not boundary between Assam and Mizoram.

Zofate Chawlhbuk before it was destroyed by the Assam Police at Zophai (Bairabi) in Mizoram.

He said that the international boundary which was made between the British and Mizo chief Suakpuilala in 1875 and was notified under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873, as the actual inter-state boundary between Assam and Mizoram is still valid and has not been superseded.

He alleged that the creation of inner line forest within Mizoram’s territory in 1930 with the initiative of former Assam chief secretary and acceptance of the inner line as actual boundary between Assam and Mizoram was a breach of law as Mizoram at that time was under excluded area and not British India.

The leader said that they are in possession of important documents to substantiate their claim.

He said that the inner line reserved forest area be taken back from Assam as it is originally belongs to Mizoram.

According to Ngurbiakvela, Zo ethnic convention on inner line reserve forest will be held in Aizawl during 20 to 21 June to discuss about their future course of action.

He said that 98 per cent of the people living within inner line reserved forest area are Bangladeshi foreigners, who are not given permanent pass by the Assam government.