Amid tensions, 48-year-old from Cachar passes away in Mizoram custody

Silchar: Tensions have once again flared up along the Assam-Mizoram border after a 48-year-old man from Cachar passed away, allegedly after being thrashed by Mizos across the border.

The 48-year-old, belonging from Lailapur, died at a Community Health Centre (CHC). Post-mortem says that he died of septisemia, but the Mizoram Government has said that there will a judicial inquiry into the matter.

Locals of Cachar have alleged that he was kidnapped and murdered by Mizoram locals. Ali's relatives told media that he had went missing after he went to collect bamboo sticks and logs.

The Superintendent of Police of Cachar has said that an arrest was made by the police of Kolasib district in connection to the alleged murder of the Cachar man.

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According to sources in Mizoram, Ali was beaten up by locals for peddling narcotics in their state. "Villagers claim that he was smuggling drugs in the region and fled upon being detected. He fell down from a cliff while running. Enraged locals also beat him up and handed him over to the security personnel at the border. He was taken to a hospital, where he passed away. According to locals, he was peddling banned heroin powder," a source told us.

Ali's brother said that the family got to know about his condition after photos were shared by Mizos on social media.

The DIG Southern Range asserted, “It is Mizoram Police’s responsibility to ensure free and fair investigation of the issue. A case has been registered in Dholai Police Station too. If the post mortem is done there, we have asked them to share videographic evidence of the same with us. We have also briefed senior official about the incident and the Government of India is likely to look into the matter.”

When asked if Intiaz Ali was a smuggler or just a common 40-year-old daily wager, the DIG said it won’t be possible to comment without conducting an investigation.

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