Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Friday said his government is on the verge of signing a peace agreement with the Lalhmingthanga Sanate faction of the Hmar People’s Convention (Democratic), in a major step aimed at restoring stability in Hmar-inhabited regions of the state. Addressing the general assembly of the Hmar Students’ Association (HSA) during the Sikpui Ruoi festival in Kolasib district, Lalduhoma said discussions are progressing to facilitate the return of the outfit’s cadres to mainstream life.
“We are hopeful that we can soon sign an agreement to restore peace in Mizoram, particularly in Hmar-dominated areas,” the CM said. The Sanate faction, active largely in Assam’s Cachar district, has been associated with extortion and other criminal activities in parts of Mizoram. The proposed pact comes years after the 2018 peace accord with another HPC(D) faction, which led to the creation of the Sinlung Hills Council (SHC) for Hmar villages in northeastern Mizoram.
Calling on the Hmar community — one of the major Mizo tribes — to take the lead in strengthening ties among various tribal groups, Lalduhoma praised the HSA for its contributions to education, cultural preservation and community welfare.
The Chief Minister also outlined his government’s development priorities, highlighting farmers’ welfare under the ‘Bana Kaih’ programme and noting that the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) government had created several new jobs over the past two years. Lalduhoma was accompanied by Assembly Speaker Lalbiakzama and Revenue Minister B Lalchhanzova, signalling the administration’s emphasis on peace-building and development.
