Assam Declares 3-Day State Mourning To Condole Death Of 5 Cops And A Civilian

A day after the death of at least six persons including five police officers in cross-border clashes between Assam and Mizoram, a three-day state mourning has been declared by the government of Assam. The national flag will fly at half-mast during this period and there will be no public entertainment, an order by the General Administration Department notified.

The mourning period will start on Tuesday and is meant to condole the death of five Assam Police personnel and one civilian.

At least six persons were killed and 60 others, including an SP, injured in a bloody clash along the Assam-Mizoram border on Monday.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has spoken to the chief ministers of Assam and Mizoram, Himanta Biswa Sarma and Zoramthanga respectively, and urged them to ensure peace along the disputed border and find an amicable settlement.

Sarma paid floral tributes to the five slain policemen at Silchar on Tuesday.

"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.

Earlier in the day, the chief minister visited the Silchar Medical College and Hospital and met the police personnel injured in the attack.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi slammed Union Home Minister Amit Shah for failing the country. On Tuesday, Gandhi alleged that India is now reaping the "dreadful consequences" of the Home Minister's actions and accused him of "sowing hatred and distrust" into the lives of people.

Gandhi took to Twitter to share his condolences for the deceased who lost their lives and also attacked Shah in a now-viral tweet.

"Heartfelt condolences to the families of those who've been killed. I hope the injured recover soon," Gandhi tweeted, tagging a purported video of the violence. "HM has failed the country yet again by sowing hatred and distrust into the lives of people. India is now reaping its dreadful consequences," the former Congress further added.

On Monday, the festering border dispute between the two northeastern states of Assam and Mizoram erupted into a bloody conflict, leading to the death of five Assam Police personnel and a civilian. The latter were killed while allegedly defending the "constitutional boundary" of the state with Mizoram and more than 60 people injured, including an SP.

In a statement on Monday, the Assam government alleged that the Mizoram Police opened fire on its officials and civilians from two dominating high features with automatic weapons, including light machine guns (LMGs).

However, Mizoram Home Minister Lalchamliana claimed that the state police responded "spontaneously by firing back" at Assam Police after its 200 personnel forcibly crossed a duty post manned by CRPF personnel and indulged in arson and firing and assaulted unarmed people.

Later, Shah spoke to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Mizoram counterpart Zoramthanga and urged them to ensure peace along the disputed border and find an amicable settlement.

Assam's Barak Valley districts of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi share a 164-km border with Mizoram's three districts of Aizawl, Kolasib and Mamit.

Following a territorial dispute, there were clashes along the inter-state border in August 2020 and February this year.

(With inputs from PTI)