One more person has been arrested in connection with the killing of an Army man in Mizoram’s Kolasib district, taking the total number of arrests in the case to nine, police said on September 25. The latest accused, a 31-year-old man from Kawnpui town in Kolasib district, was arrested and subsequently sent to judicial custody, a police officer said.
Army personnel Zakaria Lalhriattluanga, 29, who was serving with the Assam Regiment and deployed in Jammu and Kashmir, was allegedly beaten to death by a group of youths in Kolasib on September 20. He was reportedly returning to his native village, New Builum, when the incident took place. Police had earlier arrested eight people in connection with the case, including a woman and two minors. Of those arrested, six adults were sent to the district jail, while the two minors were handed over to the Juvenile Justice Board in accordance with the law. The latest arrest comes as police continue their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the Army man’s death and the events leading up to the alleged assault.
Meanwhile, Mizoram Home Minister K Sapdanga is scheduled to visit Zakaria’s parents on Saturday to offer condolences and hand over ex-gratia assistance to the bereaved family, officials said. Chief Minister Lalduhoma had on Thursday condemned the killing and said the incident had brought disrepute to the state and its people.