Aizawl: The Mizoram government and Assam Rifles have formally signed an agreement for relocating the bases of the central paramilitary force from Aizawl city to the Zokhawsang designated battalion complex.
On Saturday, Chief Minister Lalduhoma said the Assam Rifles will start moving out of the Aizawl headquarters in April to a base in Zokhawsang, about 15 km from the city.
He said a memorandum of agreement (MoA) was signed at Mizoram House in New Delhi on Wednesday.
The agreement was signed by Mizoram General Administration Department (GAD) Commissioner and Secretary Vanlaldina on behalf of the state government, and Director General of Assam Rifles Vikas Lakhera.
The Assam Rifles has bases in Aizawl city’s Zodin Square and Khatla, a Deputy Inspector General (DIG) residence at Tuikhuahtlang, and a commandant bungalow and church in Tuikual.
Moreover, the paramilitary force has plots of land at Babutlang and Chitte, and a war memorial and temple at Zodin.
The Chief Minister said though the relocation will come into effect in April 2025, the Assam Rifles will hand over their lands and properties at Chitte River, Tuikual church area and Babutlang to the state government within three months from the signing of the agreement.
He added that the Mizoram government will pay a depreciated cost to Assam Rifles by April 2025 and all the places handed over by the force to the state will be reserved for public purposes under the Mizoram (Restriction on Use of Transferred Land) Act, 2022.
CM Lalduhoma said relocation is not viable immediately as works at the Zokhawsang designated battalion complex have yet not been completed.
He said that as per the agreement, the Assam Rifles will retain its 23 Sector headquarters, Mizoram range in Khatla and DIG residence at Tuikhuahtlang.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in February 2019 had directed the Assam Rifles to shift its bases to Zokhawsang by May 31 of the same year.
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The relocation was however delayed after the paramilitary force alleged that some infrastructure and facilities at the Zokhawsang complex were not yet completed.
In 1988, 12 civilians were killed by personnel from the Assam Rifles and the state government, led by then Chief Minister Laldenga, had demanded that the force shift out of the capital.
