The clash site near the Assam-Mizoram border on Tuesday
SILCHAR: Local residents staged a road blockade on National Highway 306 connecting Silchar with Aizawl at Kabuganj on Tuesday in protest against the killing of five security personnel in an attack by Mizos at Lailapur near the Assam-Mizoram border on Monday.
Mizoram remained cut off because of the blockade, as the national highway is considered the lifeline of the northeastern state. The blockade, likely to continue throughout the night, will be turned into an indefinite one from Wednesday morning, the protesters said.
On Tuesday morning, residents came out on the streets and blocked the Silchar-Aizawl road at Kabuganj, about 20km from Silchar, demanding stern action against those involved in the attack. The protesters vociferously condemned the attack by Mizos and appealed to the government for necessary measures to ensure protection of Assam's land and safety of the people living along the inter-state border areas. They also pitched for stern punishment to all the culprits involved in the attack on Assam's officials. Hundreds of vehicles remained stranded on either side of the busy highway because of the blockade. There is strong security arrangement in view of the blockade. However, no untoward incidents were reported, said a senior police official.