The relocation of Assam Rifles from Aizawl to Zokhawsang has been in discussion for years. With the agreement finally taking effect, will this bring stability or further divide public opinion?
BY PC Bureau
Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to visit Mizoram on March 15 to attend a program marking the relocation of Assam Rifles establishments from Aizawl to Zokhawsang, near the state capital, an official confirmed on Wednesday.
Shah’s visit comes amid reports that Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma facilitated a meeting between rival rebel factions from Myanmar’s Chin region against the ruling junta. His visit is also significant in light of Lalduhoma’s recent shift in stance on the Free Movement Regime (FMR) between India and Myanmar.
After months of opposing restrictions on the FMR, the Mizoram CM recently cited rising smuggling activities as a growing concern and acknowledged that the unrestricted cross-border movement could be a contributing factor. The FMR, which allows visa-free travel between India and Myanmar for people in border communities, was originally intended to help kindred tribes maintain their ties.
Neighboring Manipur’s Meitei leadership[ has long blamed the FMR for a rise in illegal immigration, alleging that it has been exploited for demographic manipulation. During a recent Budget session, Lalduhoma expressed concern over the reluctance of Myanmar refugees in Mizoram to return to their homeland. However, Nagas, Kuki-Zos, and a large section of the Mizo population oppose imposing restrictions on the FMR.
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“We must continue to provide humanitarian aid to our Myanmar brethren who fled after the 2021 military coup,” the chief minister said. “However, many of them are unwilling to return, even though their villages are visible just across the border. While freedom of movement is important, the central government’s decision on this issue may bring positive outcomes.”
Amit Shah will be in Assam from March 14-16, making a brief visit to Mizoram on March 15 before returning to Guwahati. Notably, his itinerary does not include a visit to strife-torn Manipur, which is expected to raise eyebrows.
As part of his visit, Shah will attend the relocation ceremony of Assam Rifles from Aizawl to Zokhawsang, following an agreement signed between the Mizoram government and the paramilitary force on October 23, 2024, in New Delhi. The relocation, set to take effect in April, will see Assam Rifles vacate its main establishments in Aizawl for the designated battalion complex in Zokhawsang.
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However, Assam Rifles will retain its 23 Sector Headquarters in Aizawl’s Khatla neighborhood (95.88 acres) and the DIG residence near Raj Bhavan in Tuikhuahtlang (0.85 acre).
The demand for relocating Assam Rifles from Aizawl dates back to 1988 when the force killed 11 civilians in a violent clash. In 2019, the Union Home Ministry directed the paramilitary force to shift its base to Zokhawsang by May 31 of that year, but logistical challenges delayed the move. With the agreement now finalized, the long-awaited relocation is set to proceed next month.
