Aizawl, March 12, 2025
The much expected shifting of Assam Rifles establishments from Aizawl to Zokhawsang would be formally accomplished by Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his visit to Mizoram on March 15, an official said on Wednesday.
A Mizoram government official said that the state government since 1988 has been demanding to shift the Assam Rifles establishments to Zokhawsang, around 15 km from the state capital Aizawl.
The Mizoram government is keen to utilise the lands of the Assam Rifles establishments for various other purposes.
HM Shah, who would come to Assam on a three-day tour from March 14 to March 16, would pay a day-long visit to Mizoram on March 15 to attend the function in connection with the shifting of Assam Rifles establishments.
He will return to Guwahati on the same day after attending the event.
After discussion for many years, the Mizoram government and Assam Rifles had signed an agreement on October 23 last year in New Delhi for shifting of the paramilitary force’s establishments from the heart of the capital city to the designated battalion complex at Zokhawsang.
According to the official, the agreement would come into effect in April this year and the country’s oldest paramilitary force would accordingly vacate its main barrack complex, AR Ground or Lammual, unit hospital, Loch House, quarters guard and other establishments and lands in different parts of the state capital and shift those to Zokhawsang.
As per the agreement, Assam Rifles will retain its 23 Sector Headquarters, Mizoram Range in Aizawl’s Khatla neighbourhood (95.88 acres) and DIG residence near Raj Bhavan at Tuikhuahtlang area (0.85 acre). In 1988, the then Mizo National Front (MNF) government headed by former chief minister Laldenga first raised the demand for relocation of Assam Rifles complex from Aizawl to Zokhawsang after the paramilitary force allegedly killed 11 civilians in a violent clash.
In February 2019, the Union Home Ministry had directed the paramilitary force to shift its complex to Zokhawsang by May 31 of that year. However, the relocation was delayed after Assam Rifles claimed that the infrastructure was not ready by that time. The Zokhawsang complex was inaugurated by Home Minister Shah in April, 2023.(Agency)
