Aizawl, Nov 12 (PTI) Mizoram’s main opposition party, the Mizo National Front, on Thursday threatened legal action against those spreading “false” claims that the party, while in power, had distributed land in central Aizawl that was previously held by Assam Rifles to private individuals.
The warning came amid a controversy over land settlement certificates in areas previously occupied by Assam Rifles.
It was stoked by retired Assam Rifles officer Major Babie Lalduhsangi, in a recent interview with a YouTuber, by alleging that more than 60 land settlement certificates existed in the Assam Rifles areas.
Lalduhsangi has also claimed the Lammual ground had been divided into four land settlement certificates in the names of private individuals before the land was handed over to the state government.
The Assam Rifles had held land in the heart of Aizawl, including those in Zodin Square or Lammual, Khatla, near Lok Bhavan, Babutlang and Chite area.
On March 15 last year, Union Home Minister Amit Shah attended an event here, marking the relocation of Assam Rifles establishments from Aizawl to Zokhawsang on Aizawl’s eastern outskirts following an agreement between the paramilitary force and the present Zoram People’s Movement administration headed by Lalduhoma in October 2024.
The paramilitary force continues to occupy its sector headquarters in Khatla and the DIG residence at Tuikhuahtlang near the Lok Bhavan.
Amid the controversy, senior MNF leader and former revenue minister Lalruatkima told a press conference here that the party would approach court if those making the allegations failed to apologise and publicly clarify their statements.
Lalruatkima alleged that a political party was “using” the retired officer to malign the MNF and its previous government.
He rejected allegations that the MNF, while in power in the state, had distributed Assam Rifles land to private individuals, saying the government had enacted the Mizoram (Restriction on Use of Transferred Land) Act, 2002, to prevent such land from being acquired by private persons.
He said the MNF cabinet, at its meeting on March 8, 2019, had decided to cancel existing land settlement certificates within the Assam Rifles area and subsequently pursued the matter.
Lalruatkima also disputed the claim that more than 60 land settlement certificates existed in the area.
According to him, 54 LSCs had been recorded, of which four land leases had been allotted for public purposes, including a village council court, a Public Health Engineering facility and a primary school.
On the relocation of the Assam Rifles from the heart of Aizawl, he said the previous MNF government had prepared a draft memorandum of agreement on December 17, 2019, and submitted it to the force’s 23 Sector headquarters.
Negotiations involved several issues that needed to be resolved to safeguard the interests of the state and its people, he said and referred to three cases pending in courts involving land settlement certificate holders and the Central Young Mizo Association.
Reiterating that relocating the Assam Rifles from central Aizawl had been a longstanding priority of the MNF, Lalruatkima said no individual land settlement certificates had been allotted within the Assam Rifles area during the party’s tenure.
He urged political parties to refrain from using individuals for political purposes and exercise caution while making statements on the sensitive land issue.
Lalruatkima also challenged Chief Minister Lalduhoma and Lalduhsangi to disclose the names of the four individuals allegedly holding land settlement certificates over Lammual ground. PTI COR NSD
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