Aizawl, Dec 16: Seven members of a Village Defence Party (VDP) have been arrested and remanded to judicial custody in connection with the death of a 49-year-old man in Farkawn village, located along the Mizoram–Myanmar border in Champhai district, police said on Monday.
The deceased has been identified as C. Lalramenga, a resident of Farkawn village. According to police and local sources, Lalramenga had crossed into neighbouring Myanmar on Saturday and returned the same evening. VDP members allegedly intercepted him on suspicion of smuggling liquor or drugs from across the international border.
Reports said that local country liquor was seized from Lalramenga’s possession, after which he was subjected to questioning by the vigilante group. He was later taken back to his residence in a vehicle. Lalramenga died at around 5 am on Sunday, raising suspicions of foul play.
Following his death, Lalramenga’s family lodged a first information report (FIR) with the police, alleging that he had been tortured by VDP members. Acting on the complaint, police teams from Dungtlang Police Station and Champhai town rushed to Farkawn village and detained seven VDP members in connection with the incident.
The accused were produced before a district court in Champhai on Monday, which remanded them to judicial custody. They have been lodged at the Champhai district jail, police officials confirmed.
A post-mortem examination was conducted at the primary health centre in the village to ascertain the cause of death. Lalramenga is survived by his wife, one son and four daughters. His funeral was held at his residence in Farkawn village on Sunday evening.
Further investigation into the incident is underway, police said.
