Aizawl: Non-tribal traders who bought locally grown areca nut in Mizoram alleged on Friday that Assam Police personnel were obstructing the transportation and sale of the commodity in neighbouring Assam.Samim Barbhuya, an areca nut trader from Assam, said he bought the produce in Bilkhawthlir town in Mizoram’s Kolasib district on Thursday. However, Assam Police personnel stopped him and other traders at the Phaisen check gate and forced them to return to Mizoram, he said.The Mizoram Kuhva Chingtu Pawl (MKCP), an association of areca nut growers, has appealed to CM Lalduhoma to take up the matter with his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma. “We urge the CM to speak to his Assam counterpart and ask the latter for free movement of areca nut grown and harvested in Mizoram, ginger, chili, rubber and hatkora or semi wild orange (citrus macroptera) between the two states,” the association said.Wholesale areca nut traders also alleged that Assam Police personnel were extorting money from them while they travelled to Silchar in Cachar district via Baghabazar. “We have to pay Rs 100 at Lailapur Police check gate for entry pass and Rs 20 per bag. At the Dholai Police check gate, we have to pay additional Rs 5,000 minimum,” a trader said, adding that Assam officials also insisted they pay GST on the areca nut.An areca nut grower in Bilkhawthlir asked why there is free movement of vegetables and fruits harvested in Assam, including cabbage, cauliflower and tomato, while the movement of crops harvested in Mizoram is restricted in Assam.
