Blast in Hailakandi mosque, none hurt

SILCHAR: A blast at a mosque in remote Kachurthal in Assam's Hailakandi district early on Friday morning along the Assam-Mizoram border, had the police on toes. No casualty was reported because no one was around when the incident occurred at around 2.15 am, but the mosque was damaged.
A long-standing border dispute between the two states is believed to have triggered the explosion.A senior official in Hailakandi said suspected miscreants from Mizoram had set off the blast. A case has been registered at the Ramnathpur police station and investigation is on. SP Mohneesh Mishra said suspected Mizo miscreants are behind the blast.
Mizo miscreants in the past too had blown up an Assam government-run lower primary school and a watch tower of the Assam forest department in Kachurthal. Accompanied by the SP, DC Keerthi Jalli rushed to the site of the explosion. The device used in the attack is yet to be ascertained, said the SP. The DC had a meeting with her Kolashib counterpart and the SP close to the border. Both sides decided to beef up security and patrolling and make all efforts to nab the miscreants. They appealed to the people to maintain peace.
People who had blocked roads since morning, withdrew the protest after Jalli and Mishra requested them. Locals also sought a permanent camp of the 21st IRBn (Indian Reserve Battalion) in the area for lasting peace. The DC assured them that the administration would send a report about the incident and the need for a permanent camp.