Aizawl: An Assam Regiment jawan was allegedly beaten to death by a group of drunk youths in Mizoram’s Kolasib district while he was returning home after availing leave, police said.Kolasib SP Lalrinpuia Varte said eight people, including a woman and two minors, have been arrested in connection with the incident that took place on Sunday evening.Zakaria Lalhriattluanga (29) was attacked near Bualpui village along NH-306, shortly after arriving in Mizoram from his posting in Jammu & Kashmir. He was travelling towards his native New Builum village in a truck driven by a friend.According to reports, the incident followed an altercation triggered by the poor condition of the road near the Coffee Board’s coffee plantation area. Two trucks were reportedly unable to pass each other, leading to an argument between their drivers.The youths allegedly intervened and attacked the jawan’s friend. Lalhriattluanga was reportedly killed when he tried to help him.A post-mortem examination was conducted on the jawan, who was buried on Monday after a funeral with full military honours.The SP said the six adult accused, residents of the Hmar Veng neighbourhood of Kawnpui town, have been remanded in judicial custody. He added that more arrests could not be ruled out.The village council and Young Mizo Association unit of Kawnpui’s Hmar Veng locality publicly tendered an unconditional apology to the people of New Builum and Mizoram over the incident. They condemned the violence and demanded the harshest legal punishment for those responsible.
