Aizawl, 12 May (TNN): Mizoram home minister R Lalzirliana said the robbery of 52 gold biscuits by personnel of 8 Assam Rifles on the outskirts of Aizawl on December 14, 2015, was committed at the behest of suspended commandant of 39 Assam Rifles Jasjit Singh and three civilians.
The home minister said the robbery was the result of factional fighting between Lalmuanawma Mithipi, a former leader of students' organization Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), and smuggler Lalhmingthangi. Mithipi would transport smuggled gold from Myanmar to Aizawl for Lalhmingthangi but frequent disagreements led to a turf war between the two. Mithipi hatched a plan to rob his former employer and asked Bulaki Chand Baid, a non-tribal businessman, for help.
"Mithipi and Baid contacted Col. Jasjit Singh and together they hatched a plot to rob Lalhmingthangi of his consignment," he said.
Lalzirliana said Singh deployed two Assam Rifles groups for the purpose on December 13. One team was deployed near Seling village on NH-54 and the other near Melthum village on the Aizawl-Lunglei road via Thenzawl.
"Mithipi was supervising both groups on the nights of December 13 and 14," the minister said, adding that while the first group searched a vehicle near Bungbangla (Aizawl-Lunglei via Thenzawl road) and robbed the driver of his cell phone and wallet, the other group stopped the vehicle carrying the smuggled consignment and decamped with the gold bars.
The home minister said the robbery was the result of factional fighting between Lalmuanawma Mithipi, a former leader of students' organization Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), and smuggler Lalhmingthangi. Mithipi would transport smuggled gold from Myanmar to Aizawl for Lalhmingthangi but frequent disagreements led to a turf war between the two. Mithipi hatched a plan to rob his former employer and asked Bulaki Chand Baid, a non-tribal businessman, for help.
"Mithipi and Baid contacted Col. Jasjit Singh and together they hatched a plot to rob Lalhmingthangi of his consignment," he said.
Lalzirliana said Singh deployed two Assam Rifles groups for the purpose on December 13. One team was deployed near Seling village on NH-54 and the other near Melthum village on the Aizawl-Lunglei road via Thenzawl.
"Mithipi was supervising both groups on the nights of December 13 and 14," the minister said, adding that while the first group searched a vehicle near Bungbangla (Aizawl-Lunglei via Thenzawl road) and robbed the driver of his cell phone and wallet, the other group stopped the vehicle carrying the smuggled consignment and decamped with the gold bars.
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Mizoram