Thousands people gherao Mizoram CEO’s office, demand his removal
Aizawl (Mizoram), Nov 6 (IBNS): Over thousands of people on Tuesday gheraoed the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Mizoram at Aizawl and demanded his removal.
The poll bound state is on edge following tussle between the civil society groups, students organisations and CEO Shashank after the Election Commission of India (ECI) removed the Principal Secretary (Home) Lalnunmawia Chuaungo accusing him of interfering election process.
On Tuesday morning, thousands of people, leaders of several civil society groups, students organisations came out on road and gheraoed the CEO, Mizoram office.
The massive protest called by an umbrella organisation of several civil society groups, students organisations of the north eastern state.
The protesters demanded to remove S. B. Shahshank, CEO of Mizoram immediately.
Meanwhile, most of schools, shops, business establishments are closed in Aizawl, Mamit town and several areas of the poll bound state.
Recently, the ECI has ordered for removal of Mizoram Principal Secretary (Home) Lalnunmawia Chuaungo and sent a letter to the state Chief Secretary Arvind Ray and asked the state government to take immediate action.
The assembly polls in Mizoram are scheduled on Nov 28.
Trouble started in Mizoram after CEO Shashank sent a letter to the ECI and complaining against the Principal Secretary (Home) for his direct interference in the revision of electoral rolls.
1987-batch Gujarat-cadre IAS officer Shashank objected to facilitate voting rights to Mizoram’s Bru refugee living in Tripura in the forthcoming assembly polls.
On Nov 3, Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla sent a letter to Union Home minister and urged his intervention.
The Mizoram CM said in the letter that, it is the inept handling by an inexperienced and incompetent CEO that promoted ECI to take Principal Secretary (Home) of Mizoram removal order.
“Never have we seen such extreme action in Mizoram history. The civil society does not take this lightly and we in government also fully supported their long standing demand that the Brusnow living in Tripura transit camps should come and cast their votes inside Mizoram like every other Mizo do from outside the state at the time of elections. And that elaborate arrangements have been made both by the centre and the state government need no further explanation,” the Mizoram CM said in the letter.
Following the tense situation in Mizoram, the ECI has decided to send a three-member delegation team to visit Mizoram to take stock the situation and to meet the civil society groups backed by the church.
Meanwhile, tight security has been arranged in Mizoram and bordering areas with the neighbouring states.
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