The bandh last month was called to protest against the alleged wrongful recruitment of government employees by the Chakma Autonomous District authorities. (Source: Adam Halliday/Indian Express) The Chief Executive Member (CEM) of Mizoram’s Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC) resigned on Monday after a meeting of local Congress leaders discussed the August 4 violence at Chawngte/Kamlanagar that led to the death of a student and the ransacking of a dozen elected leaders’ houses and more than 20 vehicles.
Buddhalila Chakma submitted his resignation to Congress leader and former CEM Kali Kumar Tonchongya around 10.30 am, sources said, adding Chakma’s letter has been dispatched to Aizawl, more than 330 kms away.
Buddhalila Chakma could not be contacted despite several attempts.
Chakma’s resignation comes almost seven weeks after violence broke out at the autonomous district’s headquarters over the alleged wrongful recruitment of more than 100 “relatives” of politicians as government officers and staff by the district authorities.
Students had called a bandh in the town over the appointments, but leaders had been detained by police before the bandh was in place. Several hundred protesters surrounded the police station where the leaders were kept and pelted stones before police opened fire to disperse them.
A 20-year-old student died in the firing, which led the mob to turn on the residences of the CADC’s elected members. At least a dozen homes were ransacked and more than 20 vehicles were destroyed.
The National Human Rights Commission had earlier called for an explanation from the Mizoram government over the student’s death.
In a text message, Chakma said, “I have resigned willingly from the post of CEM today. The reason is – I want to give chance to my colleagues to try their lucks and show & proof their talents.”
He did not respond to a specific query if he was attacked over the violence.