ASSAM will abide by any law enacted by Parliament that makes it even cede its land to another State but till then it will not allow even an “inch to be encroached”, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma asserted on Tuesday amid border tensions with Mizoram. Sarma’s comments came a day after six Assamese people, including five police personnel and a civilian, were killed and over 50 injured in border clashes with Mizoram.

 

He also said Assam will move the Supreme Court seeking protection of Innerline Forest Reserve from destruction and encroachment and deploy three commando battalions in Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi districts bordering Mizoram to strengthen security. “It is the responsibility of the Centre to define the boundary and we will abide by it...if tomorrow the Parliament enacts a law by which our land can be given to another State, we will do so but till then we will protect our constitutional boundary,” he told a press conference here after paying floral tributes to the slain personnel. He also visited the Silchar Medical College and Hospital and met police personnel injured in the attack. Assam has declared a three-day State mourning following the incident. Assam, he said, will behave responsibly under all circumstances, and even under provocation, will not fire back at civilians.

 

“We hope that the Mizos regret that they have fired at fellow countrymen but we are leaving it to their wisdom and conscience. This is a dispute between two States and not a fight between countries. But the video evidence that we have of the Mizo forces celebrating after attacking our people has saddened and hurt us,” he said.