Mizoram issues prohibitory orders in border village over temple construction
The Mizoram government has issued prohibitory orders in Phuldungsei after an organisation planned to construct a temple in the village located on the inter-state border with Tripura and caught in a dispute between the two states. The state said the construction of the temple could affect peace in the village.
The Mizoram government has issued prohibitory orders in Phuldungsei after an organisation planned to construct a temple in the village located on the inter-state border with Tripura and caught in a dispute between the two states. The state said the construction of the temple could affect peace in the village.
The order, which came into effect on October 16, prohibited the assembly of four or more people in the village and a few nearby areas in the Mamit district of the state.
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According to the government, a local organisation called Songrongma was planning to build a Shiva temple at Thaidaw Ylang in the district without its permission.
“This has been planned without the permission of the government of Mizoram and is against the interest of the local community and could harm peace and tranquility in the region,” Mamit district magistrate Dr Lalrozama in the prohibitory order. “It is necessary to prohibit people from assembling in groups to prevent any untoward incident which is likely to disrupt or adversely affect peace and tranquility prevailing in the region,” the order said.
Mizoram home secretary Lalbiaksangi wrote to the Tripura counterpart BK Sahu on October 10 saying the construction of the temple should be stopped.
The dispute between the two states started after Tripura said three months ago that about 130 villagers were registered as voters in both the states and were drawing benefits, such as ration, from both sides.
According to a Tripura government official, the village has generally been considered to be a part of the state, although a portion is in Mizoram. “The village’s administrative control is with Tripura,” the official said.
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Tripura has been laying claim to Phuldungsei but says Mizoram shows a part of the village as its territorial area. The two governments are likely to hold a joint survey soon with the help of the Survey of India to find a solution to the dispute.
