Mizoram Home Minister R Lalzirliana today said that the state government has taken serious note of allegations of dacoity by a suspended 39th battalion Assam Rifles Commandant and eight other personnel of the paramilitary force in 'connivance' with four civilians.
Quoting reports from the investigating officers, Lalzirliana said the dacoity was committed on December 14 last when the 13 persons, many of them armed with sophisticated weapons waylaid a vehicle used for smuggling of 52 gold bars worth around Rs 14.5 crore at the outskirts of Aizawl.
"According to the FIR submitted by Lalnunfela, driver of the MUV which was waylaid by the armed jawans, the interceptors decamped with all the gold and also forcibly took away a cell phone and Rs 75,000 in cash," he said.
One of the accused was Colonel Jasjit Singh, a suspended Commandant of the 39th battalion.
Further quoting reports from the investigating officers, the Home minister said that alleged enmity between Lalhmingthangi, a well-known gold smuggler and Lalmuanawma Mithipi (former student leader) a transporter working under Lalhmingthangi seemed the root cause of the dacoity.
Mithiphi, who turned against his employer, sought the help of Bulaki Chand Baid, a prominent Aizawl-based non-tribal businessman, he said, adding that the duo allegedly contacted Col Singh through C.S. Thanga, former negotiator for Kuki militants in Manipur and a well-known political person.
The three civilians and the Commandant allegedly hatched the conspiracy to commit highway robbery on December 14, he said.
