PTaking note of ongoing crisis in Mizoram, the Election Commission has summoned State chief electoral officer SB Shashank and set up a three- member committee to look into the allegations. After the EC decision, the protest was called off by NGO Coordination Committee demanding the removal of Shashank.
Earlier, the EC has set up a high-level committee headed by a deputy election commissioner to hold talks with protestors seeking ouster of the Mizoram poll panel chief. The Mizoram is slated to go to polls November 28 to elect its new Assembly.
In a statement, the EC said it has accepted the broad contours of the resolution passed by the Mizoram’s NGOs coordination committee, spearheading the protest, after its delegation’s deliberations with the EC. “The Election Commission has also decided to depute a high-level team led by Mizoram Deputy election Commissioner Sudeep Jain to hold further deliberations on their resolution,” the statement said. Jharkhand Chief Electoral Officer Lalbiaktluanga Khiangte, who is also a Mizo, has been included in the EC panel.
Members of the influential NGOs including Young Mizo Association (YMA) had blocked the office of CEO at Aizawl demanding his removal for his reported “pro-Bru refugee” stance and his role in the transfer of Mizoram principal secretary (home), Lalnunmawia Chuaungo, recently.
Shashank had earlier defended Chuaungo’s transfer saying the latter was found “interfering” in preparation of electoral rolls for Bru refugees and deployment of central security forces.
About 40,000 Brus had fled ethnic violence in 1997 and have since spent their lives in refugee camps in adjoining Tripura when they had fled Mizoram following an ethnic clash with the Christian Mizos. A few returned after a quadripartite agreement signed among the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Governments of Mizoram and Tripura, and a group representing the refugees.
The NGOs demand that the Bru should cast their votes in Mizoram and not in relief camps as is being planned by the EC. The principal secretary (home) had reportedly tried to stop an EC’s decision to allow Bru refugees cast their votes in relief camps.