Aizawl: Residents of New Builum village on Tuesday staged a demonstration outside Kolasib District Jail in Saidan, demanding swift action against those arrested in connection with the killing of Assam Regiment soldier Zakaria Lalhriattluanga.
The protest followed Zakaria’s death on September 21 in an alleged road-rage assault near Bualpui village in Kolasib district. The protesters demanded that police publicly identify the suspects arrested in the case.
According to New Builum YMA leaders, police responded by bringing the arrested persons before the assembled residents and identifying them. Police also announced the names of those arrested in connection with the killing.
The protesters demanded that all those involved in Zakaria’s death be arrested and prosecuted. They also expressed concern over what they described as the Home Minister’s silence on the incident and called for the accused to be punished according to law, including the death penalty.
Zakaria, 29, was serving in the Assam Regiment and was deployed in Jammu and Kashmir, Kolasib Superintendent of Police Lalrinpuia Varte had said earlier.
He was on vacation and travelling to his native New Builum village near Kolasib when the incident occurred. He had arrived at Lengpui airport in Aizawl on Sunday.
The two were travelling towards Kolasib in a truck when they were allegedly assaulted near Bualpui by a group of youths from Kawnpui town who were returning from a picnic, according to the SP.
Varte said a minor traffic dispute reportedly broke out between the two groups before escalating into a fight. Zakaria died at the spot, while Laltanpuia, who was driving the truck, sustained minor injuries.
Following a complaint by Zakaria’s mother, police registered a murder case and launched an investigation that led to the arrest of eight suspects, including two minors.
The SP said six of the accused, comprising five men and a woman, were sent to jail, while the two minors were handed over to the Juvenile Justice Board.
The protest came amid demands from Zakaria’s family and local residents for justice for the soldier, who was the sole breadwinner of his family.