Aizawl, April 29: Union Minister of State for Home Affairs B. Sanjay Kumar highlighted the importance of close coordination among Assam Rifles, state police, district administration, and local bodies to ensure the safety and welfare of border residents in Mizoram.
During his visit, the minister stressed the need for enhanced cooperation to strengthen security in border villages, promote development, and improve the welfare of the people.
The minister conducted a high-level meeting via video conference from the MINECO Secretariat in Aizawl with district officials from the Siaha district. Participants included Siaha District Commissioner V.L. Hruaizela Khiangte, along with officials from the Mara Autonomous District Council (MADC), who joined the meeting from the mini conference room in Siaha.
Khiangte provided a brief introduction and overview of the district. The Superintendent of Police for Siaha emphasized the peaceful law and order situation, noting that strict monitoring is in place against illegal cross-border activities, including drug and arms trafficking, under the broader framework of national security.
District officials updated the Union Minister on ongoing projects, their achievements, and challenges faced during implementation. Various issues were discussed in detail, including cross-border concerns, international trade, security challenges, education, and healthcare, along with strategies to address and mitigate these concerns.
Originally, the Union Minister was scheduled to visit the Siaha district headquarters, but he had to make alternative arrangements due to inclement weather. Officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs accompanied him.
Mizoram’s geographical position heightens its sensitivity, with a 510-kilometer unfenced international border with Myanmar and a porous, hilly 318-kilometer border with Bangladesh.
These circumstances make the state particularly vulnerable to cross-border trafficking of narcotics and other illegal goods.
Various restricted items, including drugs, exotic animals, foreign cigarettes, and betel nuts from Myanmar, are frequently trafficked through Mizoram’s six districts—Champhai, Siaha, Lunglei, Hnahthial, Saitual, and Serchhip—posing significant challenges for law enforcement agencies.
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