High-level functionary of political party’s youth wing arrested in Rs 20 lakh extortion bid

The Mizoram Police have arrested a high-ranking political party worker and his accomplice for threatening an Aizawl resident to pay Rs 20 lakhs. The Zoram Nationalist Party has however denied the party’s involvement.

Jacob Lianhuapa (40), currently chief organizer of the ZNP’s youth wing, and Vanlalliana (20), who has been living with Jacob for sometime, were arrested by investigators of the CID (Special Branch) late on Monday night.

Investigators said Jacob first called up S T Khama, a former ponzi scheme collector and one-time independent MLA candidate, on his cellphone in mid-October and asked him to pay their “outfit” Rs 20 lakhs.

Jacob did not identify himself or mention what the “outfit” was, but gave S T Khama a deadline of October 26 to make the payment and said “we will do what needs to be done” if he did not.

Khama informed the police, and the CID (SB) was roped in to investigate. In the meantime, Khama negotiated with Jacob saying he would pay them Rs 3 lakhs first, and an Aizawl hotel was designated a drop-off point.

“The money was delivered on Sunday to the hotel, but the Jacob not pick it up immediately. On Monday he paid a coolie to collect the money and asked him to leave it with an elderly hawker. His accomplice Vanlalliana then picked it up from the hawker in the evening,” said a CID (SB) official.

Plainclothes policemen from the unit immediately tracked him on foot for several hours and eventually arrested Jacob and Vanlalliana on Monday night on a side alley in Aizawl’s Chanmari neighbourhood.

“We have no information that Jacob is connected to a militant group so it is likely he acted for his own benefit. It is unclear if he was doing this as part of party activity,”the investigator said.

Lalmuanpuia Punte, ZNP youth president, denied knowledge of the incident and said, “The ZNP did not in any way ask these men to carry out these activities.”

The Zoram Nationalist party immediately stripped Jacob Lianhuapa of his position as Chief Organizer of the party’s youth wing on Tuesday afternoon, when news of his arrest spread.

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Sandalwood seized in Mizoram

Aizawl: Customs officials seized 5,281 kilos of red sandalwood in Mizoram-Myanmar border Champhai town on Sunday, Customs officials Tuesday said.

The officials said that the seized red sandalwood is worth around Rs 1.05 crore in the local market.

Challiana (30) a resident of Vengthlang locality in Champhai was arrested in this connection and he was accused of concealing the seized red sandalwood in his granary.

The Customs officials kept the seized red sandalwood in the custody of the Assam Rifles in Champhai.

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Mizo govt to take strict action against extortionists

Aizawl: Mizoram government will take stringent action against militants involved in extortion, state Home Minister R Lalzirliana Tuesday said.

Lalzirliana said some militants active in the Mizoram-Manipur-Assam border areas were sending letters demanding money from government employees posted in those areas.

He appealed to government employees not to succumb to the pressures from "unwanted elements" and warned that those indulging in the illegal activity would be punished.

Meanwhile, Manipur-based Hmar People's Convention (Democrats) has said the outfit was not involved in the extortion racket in the border areas.

A statement issued by the Hmar group said the extortionists were using its name to tarnish the image of the outfit.

HPC(D) has never harassed government employees working for the development of the Hmar people, the statement claimed, adding that "the criminals belonged to another group, but is using the name of HPC(D)."

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Two persons abducted in Mizoram

Two non-tribals hailing from Baghabazar village in Assam's Cachar district have been abducted by unidentified people, police said today.

Prabot Das and his friend Morrudin Laskar were abducted by people who had hired a van belonging to Das from Baghabazar village on Monday, SDPO of Vairengte Sub-Division Remlalliana Hnamte said.

The van was found near Mizoram-Assam border village of Bilkhawthlir and the abductors called the family members of Das on Tuesday and informed them that they had kidnapped Das and Laskar, he said.

A police party led by Hnamte launched a massive combing operation in the area.

The police were yet to ascertain whether the abductors were militants or goons operating in the Mizoram-Assam border areas.

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Infant Mortality Rate in Mizoram '36' in past six months

The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) in Mizoram during the past six months (April to September) was 36 and Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) 121, health department officials said today.

There were 13 maternal deaths and 387 infant deaths (below one year) during the period, State Reproductive Child Health Programme Officer Dr R Lalthanga said.

The highest number of infant deaths were reported from the southern district of Saiha and the lowest number was from Mamit district, he said.

The IMR during the last fiscal in the state was 35 and MMR 76.

According to the health department record, 10,857 babies were born during April and September.

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‘Peter Biaksangzuala, look how many have come to see you off’

Peter’s No.21 jersey will be retired by his club (Source: FACEBOOK/MIZORAM PREMIER LEAGUE)

The death of a 23-year-old Mizo footballer from spinal-cord injuries he sustained during a goal-celebrating somersault has found a mention in football-centric online portals. Bloggers also paid tribute to Peter Biaksangzuala and a local news channel ran a special programme in his memory during prime-time on Monday evening.

Biaksangzuala, 23, a native of the eastern town of Khawzawl, played in the midfield position for the Mizoram Premier League club Bethlehem Vengthlang (BVT) FC, an Aizawl-based club. A player who could handle both defensive and midfield roles due to his experience on the semi-professional level, Peter earlier played for another MPL club, Kulikawn FC, and in between also signed with then reigning champions Dinthar FC. He moved briefly to a Shillong team before entering the MPL again, joining BVT this season.

Peter’s side had been down by a goal for the first 62 minutes in last Tuesday’s match against Chanmari West FC, a game that was important for the club currently third in the league table. The defensive midfielder then scored an equalizer, which was coincidentally also his first goal in the MPL.

As he celebrated with a series of somersaults, Peter fell and landed on his neck. He was carried off the field on a stretcher. His team eventually lost the match 3-2. Peter was admitted to the Aizawl Civil Hospital, where attempts to repair his spinal cord were unsuccessful. He was wheeled into the ICU on Friday night and put on a ventilator. He passed away at 7am on Sunday. Perhaps as a parting gift, he had donated his eyes.

Later that day, Indian Super League clubs North-East United and Goa also paid tribute to Peter by observing a few moments of silence before the match in Guwahati. MPL commentator Lalthanzama Vanchhawng remembers Peter fondly, and talks about a Christian youth event earlier this year at Peter’s hometown where the two chatted at length about his dreams of establishing a professional football career.

“He lived in a rented house in the Aizawl Venglai neighbourhood, and people I know from there have always spoken of him with fondness. He was a religious boy who also took part in a lot of community service,” Vanchhawng said. “Before he was wheeled into the ICU last week, he told his club officials not to worry, that he was going to rest in God’s arms.”

Final entry
Thousands attended a farewell ceremony held in the community hall on Sunday, and there was uncontrolled sobbing when the Pastor read out the last entry in his diary, which quotes from the Corinthians chapter of the Bible.

In a tearful farewell issued on the club’s Facebook page, BVT FC said in a statement, “Peter, look how many have come to see you off. The whole neighbourhood is grieving. On the roadside people are crying your name out, calling to you through tears but you do not answer. You wanted to spend your life on the football field, now you will spend eternity in heaven. Sing for us a victory song from there. Goodnight Peter.”

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Mizo girl’s body arrives in Aizawl

Aizawl: The body of Juliet Zonunmawi, the Mizo girl who died in her Munirka apartment in Delhi on Thursday night, was brought to Mizoram on Sunday. She was laid to rest in a local cemetery in Aizawl's Kulikawn locality on the same day.

An autopsy was performed on Zonunmawi's body at Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital and a farewell function was held at the Mizoram House in Delhi before it was flown to Aizawl.

The local council of Kulikawn urged Mizoram chief minister Lal Thanhawla to take note of the matter and ensure that the culprits are booked soon.

A number of organizations in Mizoram condemned the brutal murder. They also demanded an end to racial discrimination against people from the northeast in other parts of the country

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