Agartala, Oct. 20: Allegations of encroachment on Tripura’s territory by jawans of Mizoram Armed Police and their increasing forays into Reang and Chakma tribal-dominated villages have given rise to tension in North Tripura’s border areas with Mizoram.

The district magistrate of North Tripura, Swapan Saha, said he was “aware of the situation” and was chalking out steps to tackle the problem.

The sub-divisional officer of Kanchanpur, Narayan Debbarma, said North Tripura has a 109-km border with Mizoram and over the past few years, Mizoram Armed Police personnel strayed into Tripura and harassed the residents of the bordering villages on several occasions.

“On the eve of the polls in 2004, the jawans had set up a camp within Mizoram territory, near Kawnpui under Bhangmun police station in Tripura to provide security to voters among the Reang refugees. However, the camp remained in place even after the polls and subsequently, the jawans came forward into Tripura territory with their camp and are currently occupying even a road,” said Debbarma.

The situation came to light recently after Mizoram Armed Police personnel harassed the villagers at Kawnpui and beat up the drivers of trucks carrying forest goods.

The tribal villagers had informed the officers of Bhangmun police station but no action was taken.

Sources from Kanchanpur said during his recent visit to Jampui hills of North Tripura, the forest and rural development minister, Jiten Chowdhury, received complaints from harassed villagers and visited the occupied spot.

Chowdhury admitted that the state’s forests were illegally occupied by the jawans and efforts were on to recover it.