Aizawl: One more person has been arrested in connection with the alleged killing of a soldier in Mizoram’s Kolasib district, taking the total number of accused arrested in the case to nine, a senior police officer said on Friday.
The 31-year-old male accused, a resident of Kawnpui town, was arrested on Wednesday and remanded to judicial custody and subsequently sent to Kolasib district jail the same day, the officer said.
Police had on Monday arrested eight persons, including a woman and two minors, for their alleged involvement in the killing of Zakaria Lalhriattluanga (29), a resident of New Builum village near Kolasib.
Zakaria was associated with the Assam Regiment and posted in Srinagar.
Six adult accused were sent to the district jail, while the two minors were handed over to the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) on the same day, police said.
The incident took place on September 20 near Bualpui village when Zakaria was returning home on leave in a truck driven by his friend John Laltanpuia.
The two were allegedly assaulted by a group of youths from nearby Kawnpui town following a confrontation over a traffic issue, police said.
The youths were returning to Kawnpui after a picnic.
Zakaria died at the spot, while John sustained injuries in the alleged assault, according to police.
The killing has triggered demands for justice from Zakaria’s family, ex-servicemen and residents of New Builum and Kawnpui.
Meanwhile, state Home Minister K. Sapdanga will visit Zakaria’s parents on Saturday to offer condolences to the bereaved family.