Power Cut Across Assam Rifles Posts in Mizoram After Minister’s Convoy Allegedly Stopped at Checkpoint

Aizawl: All Assam Rifles posts in Mizoram were cut off power from 2 pm to 8:30 pm on Thursday. The incident took place when a mobile vehicle check post (MVCP) was set up by the Assam Rifles near Zokhavsang and the convoy of Mizoram Power Minister F. Rodingliana was allegedly stopped there. The check post is located on the outskirts of Aizawl.The minister and his security staff alleged that the Assam Rifles stopped his convoy, while the Assam Rifles claim that the convoy was not stopped for checking but the minister’s convoy itself decided to stop.Following the incident, there was power cut at all Assam Rifles posts, affecting their operations. The Assam Rifles described it as a deliberate action aimed at obstructing their movement.In a statement issued on Saturday, an Assam Rifles spokesperson said the incident took place on October 17 when a Mobile Vehicle Check Post (MVCP) was set up near Zokhawsang based on intelligence inputs about possible transportation of war-like material.”When the convoy of Minister F. Rodingliana, comprising four vehicles, attempted to pass the check post, the minister’s vehicle was allowed to proceed as per standard procedure. However, the convoy itself stopped at the check post where routine checking of other civilian vehicles was being carried out by Assam Rifles,” the statement said.The spokesperson also said the minister’s public secretary alighted from his vehicle and misbehaved with Assam Rifles personnel and forcibly snatched body cameras from the soldiers. Other members of the convoy also indulged in obstructive acts and shouted anti-national slogans like “India jao wap”.Some videos of the incident are also circulating on social media, in which it is clearly visible that the minister’s staff threatened to cut off the power supply of Assam Rifles.After the power supply was cut off, Assam Rifles called it a “planned move” aimed at hampering their operations and endangering the security of the border areas.An Assam Rifles spokesperson said that Assam Rifles is deployed to guard the 510-km-long Indo-Myanmar border and take action against drug smuggling. Drugs worth Rs 690 crore have been seized in more than 130 operations so far this year. Due to Mizoram’s proximity to the international border, the state is becoming a major route for smuggling, including materials such as arms and ammunition.Assam Rifles has constantly cracked down on these activities to ensure the security of the state and the country.