Commander of March 28 Mizoram ambush arrested

AIZAWL: Self-styled sergeant of the Manipur-based Hmar People Convention-Democratic (HPC-D) said to be the commander of the March 28 ambush in Mizoram that killed three policemen and injured several others, has been arrested, state home minister R Lalzirliana said here today.

'Sergeant' Lalbiakliana, 38, was arrested by Assam Rifles personnel at Jograpur in Manipur around 5:00pm Saturday and was brought to Aizawl this morning.

"He was the commander of the HPC-D militants who ambushed the Mizoram Assembly Committee on Government Assurances team near Mizoram-Manipur border in Zokhawthiang hamlet on March 28 last, killing three policemen and injuring several others. He was also wanted by Mizoram police in a number of criminal cases and carried Rs 2 lakh on his head," Lalzirliana said.

With this, four of the 12 militants involved in the ambush have been arrested.

"We will continue the operation until and unless we arrest all the 12 culprits behind the ambush," Lalzirliana told reporters at his home Sunday evening.

Lalzirliana said that the Mizoram has had good support from the police of the neighbouring states and also from the Hmar people in Manipur who wanted to get rid of the HPC-D but could not do so as the militants were armed.

The arrested militant is a permanent resident of Hmarkhawlien in Cachar district of Assam, was brought to Aizawl around 3:00am today.

On the resumption of peace negotiations with the HPC-D, Lalzirliana said, "If the HPC-D want to resume talks, they should return all the arms and ammunitions they have stolen from Mizoram police first."

"Not only the HPC-D militants, we will also arrest civilians who aided them," the home minister warned.

(TNT News)