Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Aizawl: Police arrested a 31-year-old man from Kawnpui town on Friday, September 25, marking the ninth arrest in the killing of an Army soldier. The suspect is now in judicial custody. Zakaria Lalhriattluanga, a 29-year-old soldier with the Assam Regiment, died after a group of youths beat him on September 20. He was returning home to New Builum village in Kolasib district when the attack occurred.
Police previously arrested eight other people. This group includes one woman and two minors. The six adults remain in district jail, while authorities transferred the two minors to the Juvenile Justice Board. Investigations into the death remain active.
Mizoram Home Minister K Sapdanga plans to visit the soldier's parents on Saturday. He will deliver condolences and provide ex-gratia support to the family. Chief Minister Lalduhoma condemned the violence on Thursday. He stated, "the incident had brought disrepute to the state and its people."
Updated at 26th September 2026 at 2:00pm
Investigators confirmed that Lalhriattluanga was deployed to Jammu and Kashmir at the time of his death. Police are still digging into the exact circumstances surrounding the assault and the events that led to the confrontation.
Updated at 26th September 2026 at 2:16pm
Investigators pinned the motive on a traffic dispute. Zakaria was riding in a truck with his friend, John Laltanpuia, when the confrontation erupted. The suspects, who were heading back from a picnic, swarmed the vehicle near Bualpui village. Laltanpuia suffered injuries during the assault, while the soldier died at the scene.
Local ex-servicemen and residents from both New Builum and Kawnpui have joined the victim's family in demanding justice for the brutal slaying.
Comments