Aizawl: The association of areca nut farmers from the Hachhek area, Hachhek Bial Kuhva Chingtu Pawl (HBKCP), along with farmers from Vairengte and Bilkhawthlir, met Mizoram Home Minister K. Sapdanga to address pressing concerns over the storage of illegal areca nuts and ongoing smuggling activities.
In the meeting, the farmers demanded that the government clear all godowns of illegal areca nuts by June 30, 2024.
This resolution was reached during a joint committee meeting held on June 6, 2024, where members from Hachhek Bial, Vairengte, and Bilkhawthlir agreed to take necessary action if their request was not met.
Home Minister K. Sapdanga assured the farmers that plans to address the issue were already in motion and that he had discussed the matter with the Deputy Commissioner.
The farmers also urged that the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by social activist Vanramchhuangi in the Gauhati High Court, Aizawl Bench, regarding the investigation of areca nut smuggling, be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Earlier in May, the Gauhati High Court’s Aizawl Bench expressed serious concerns about the Mizoram government’s failure to act on an FIR related to areca nut smuggling, which has been unresolved for over three years. The court questioned why the FIR, registered in 2021, has not been acted upon, highlighting a prolonged period of inaction on a critical issue.
Prominent Mizoram activist Vanramchhuangi, also known as Ruatfela Nu, filed the PIL, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the ongoing smuggling of dry areca nuts from Mizoram to other regions. The petition accused the state of inaction and alleged that the concerned department had issued forged e-way bills to facilitate smuggling operations.
In a court order dated January 22, 2024, the High Court had already directed the Mizoram government to conduct a fresh and impartial investigation into Vanramchhuangi’s complaint. The court stated, “It is a sorry state of affairs that despite giving specific direction by this Court vide order dated 22.01.2024 and thereafter granting time to the State Government twice to furnish before this Court the latest factual report, it transpires that till date no FIR has been registered on the complaint filed by the petitioner.”
The High Court has now directed the Chief Secretary of Mizoram to file a personal affidavit explaining why the court’s order from January 22, 2024, has not been fully complied with. The Officer-in-Charge of Champhai Police Station has also been ordered to file a personal affidavit explaining the failure to register the FIR filed by the petitioner in 2021.
Dear Reader,
Every day, our team at EastMojo travels through rain, rough roads, and remote hills to bring you stories that matter – stories from your town, your people, your Northeast.
We do this because we believe in truthful, independent journalism. No big corporate backing, no government pressure – just honest reporting by local journalists who live and breathe the same air you do.
But to keep doing this work, we need you. Your small contribution helps us pay our reporters fairly, reach places others ignore, and keep asking the tough questions.
If you believe the Northeast deserves its own fearless voice, stand with us.
Support independent journalism. Be a Member.
Thank you,
Karma Paljor
Editor-in-Chief, eastmojo.com
The HBKCP expressed their dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of the case. In a statement, the association voiced their distrust and disappointment with the decision to keep the investigation within the Mizoram Police instead of handing it over to the CBI, as suggested by the High Court.
“We are very disappointed and believe that this shows the government is not concerned for areca nut growers,” said an HBKCP member. “We request the government to let the CBI take up this PIL,” they added.
Also Read | Mizoram: CM optimistic about harvesting 1 million quintals of ginger