Aizawl, September 23: An Assam Regiment soldier was allegedly beaten to death by a group of youths in Mizoram’s Kolasib district on Sunday evening while returning home on leave from his posting in Jammu and Kashmir. Police have arrested eight persons, including a woman and two minors, in connection with the case.
The deceased has been identified as Zakaria Lalhriattluanga, 29, a native of New Builum village. He was serving with the Assam Regiment and was posted in Srinagar. He had joined the regiment in 2017. On 20 September, he arrived at Lengpui Airport near Aizawl and was travelling towards his village in a truck driven by his friend, John Laltanpuia.
The incident occurred on National Highway 306 near Bualpui village, close to the Coffee Board plantation area between Bualpui and Thingdawl. According to police, two trucks were unable to pass each other on a badly damaged stretch of road. An argument broke out between the drivers.
A group of youths from the Hmar Veng locality of Kawnpui town, reportedly returning from a picnic and alleged to have been under the influence of alcohol, intervened. They pulled Laltanpuia from his vehicle and assaulted him. Lalhriattluanga was fatally attacked when he attempted to intervene. He died at the spot. Laltanpuia sustained minor injuries. Another companion, Lalchawiliana, who arrived after hearing the commotion, was also allegedly assaulted.
Kolasib Superintendent of Police Lalrinpuia Varte confirmed that eight persons have been arrested. The six adult accused—Zoremthangi (38), Emmanuel Lalchhanhima (27), Lalhundika (29), Lalnunfima (26), David Remruatpuia (18) and Malsawmtluanga (24)—all residents of Hmar Veng in Kawnpui, have been remanded in judicial custody at the Kolasib District Prison and Correctional Centre. The two minors have been produced before the Juvenile Justice Board.
The accused have been booked under Sections 103(1), 115 and 3(6) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Section 6(2) of the Mizoram Liquor Prohibition Act, 2019. Police have stated that further arrests cannot be ruled out.
A post-mortem examination was conducted. The soldier was buried on Monday with full military honours. His mother, Lalthazovi, said he was the second youngest of five siblings and the family’s principal breadwinner, supporting elderly parents, including his father, VL Duailova, a former pastor. The family has appealed for the identification of all those responsible and for stringent legal action. Residents of New Builum subsequently demonstrated outside the Kolasib district jail seeking justice.
The village council and the Young Mizo Association unit of Kawnpui’s Hmar Veng locality have publicly tendered an unconditional apology to the people of New Builum and to the state. The Mizoram government has ordered a probe into the death. Investigation into the circumstances of the assault is continuing.
