Agartala: At least 130 residents of Phuldungsei village residing along Tripura-Mizoram have been found having their names enrolled in the electoral roll of Zampui Phuldungsei under Hacchek constituency of Mizoram.
The Phuldungsei village situated at Kanchapur Sub-division under North Tripura district shares state boundary with Tripura and Mizoram, around 324 Km from here.
Speaking with EastMojo, an official with the condition of anonymity said that the Phuldungsei village is a part of Tripura. The village divided in two parts with a PWD road was traditionally believed to be shared by Tripura on Western side and Mizoram from the eastern side.
“The entire Phuldungsei village is a part of Tripura, and even though, Tripura government had tried for demarcation for both the states, the result was not fruitful”, the official said.
The official also said that the villagers are enjoying double ration cards and benefits from two states.
“The villagers living on the Eastern side are holding double ration cards and voter id cards. According to the electoral roll of Mizoram, at least 130 residents are voters in Mizoram”, the official added.
A letter written by Kanchanpur sub-division magistrate Chandani Chandran wrote that on careful scrutiny of part 37 of Hacchek ST Constituency of Mizoram, it was observed that Phuldungsei Village Council has been added as part of the constituency as Zampui Phuldungsei and 130 voters in the electoral roll of Zampui Phuldungsei are residents of Tripura.
They are present in Electoral rolls of Tripura, in ROR of Phuldungsei Village Council and avail ration facility from Phuldungsei Ration shop under Kanchanpur Subdivision.
“Currently, the PWD road leading to Kawnpui border village of Jampui hill RD block is regarded as the boundary between Tripura and Mizoram in Phuldungsei where the Eastern side belongs to Mizoram, and the western side is Tripura. Traditional Phuldungsei VC as a whole (despite Eastern side falling in Mizoram) has been accepted as a part of Tripura. Hence, the inclusion of the VC and its residents in Mizoram electoral rolls seems to be problematic. There is an urgent need to demarcate the exact boundary between Mizoram and Tripura incorporating the entire Phuldungsei VC in Tripura”, the letter reads.
Polling for 558 village councils in nine districts and 83 local councils within Aizawl municipal area will be held on August 27. There are 2,454 seats in village councils, of which 630 are reserved for women while the total number of seats in local councils is 545, including 148 seats reserved for women.
Meanwhile the royal scion and former state Congress chief Pradyot Kishore Deb Barman took to Twitter and wrote, “I have spoken to CM @BjpBiplab and the SDM Kanchanpur that reports of our territories being taken away by a neighbouring state has to be dealt with firmly. This report confirms it. We demand an immediate response from the govt in this matter. Tripura boundaries are non-negotiable.” Source: EastMojo
