Aizawl: On August 19, 2024, two police officers stationed in Borapansury in Chakma Autonomous District Council were allegedly assaulted by a group of Chakma women. Photos went viral of the injured policemen and the Mizoram apex student body, Mizo Zirlai Pawl was quick to issue an advisory warning Chakma people not to leave their homes for their own safety.
The incident was first reported on social media by journalist Vanneihtluanga, who detailed the assault on OC SI Clifford MS Hriatzuala and his constable, H Zothansanga. According to the post, Clifford was beaten with a piece of wood, sustaining injuries to his head and hands.
The report also mentioned that Clifford had been suffering from an illness that left him unable to eat and caused vomiting for days, for which he had previously received treatment outside of Mizoram. Allegedly, they were planning to proceed to Tlabung for further treatment as his condition had worsened.
Vanneihtluanga reported that the two officers were unable to travel by road due to a landslide blocking the way. They then attempted to rent a boat and had reached an agreement, but by the time they were ready, someone else had allegedly taken the boat, forcing them to wait a long time for its return. While waiting, they decided to use another boat, which was in poor condition. The boat sank, but they managed to recover it. According to the report, despite Clifford offering to pay for any damage caused, around 300 Chakma women allegedly gathered and attacked both him and Zothansanga.
On August 20, the Mizo Zirlai Pawl demanded that a case be filed against those who assaulted the police officers. When their demand was not met, they issued a warning for Chakmas to remain in their homes.
To ensure compliance with their advisory, MZP officials and members organized a volunteer watch and gathered in front of Chakma House in Hunthar, as well as outside the residences of two Chakma MLAs in Aizawl.
They met the Home Minister K Sapdanga in his residence and also the home secretary, Vanlalmawia, MCS and DIG Northern Range, H Remthlengliana, IPS at the site of the gathering. They were assured that an FIR has been registered and that the investigation is ongoing. The MZP also demanded that the state government should conduct a magisterial enquiry into the matter.
However, an investigation into the case, along with further inquiries by EastMojo, has led to sources revealing an alleged assault on a Chakma woman, with the police officer reportedly instigating the violence in a drunken state. EastMojo has also obtained a copy of a written statement in which the police officers admit to wrongdoing.
A member of the Chakma Mahila Samiti in Borapansury told EastMojo, “The OC wanted to hire a boat, but the boatman, Puinu Kumar, had no fuel and needed advance money to buy it. When the boatman refused to take him without paying the advance money, in a drunken state, the OC damaged the boat, which led to further trouble. He even tried to strangle the boatman, and when the boatman’s wife intervened, the OC inappropriately touched her and pushed her. She then quickly gathered other women for support.”
In a written statement, the OC, Clifford, and Constable Zothansanga admitted to harassing the public while intoxicated, damaging public property such as boats in the Thega River, and unlawfully seizing car keys. They acknowledged their involvement in physical altercations with the public and accepted responsibility for the resulting instability. They committed to covering all expenses to compensate the boat owners.
A joint press briefing, signed by thirteen representatives from Village Council Presidents, the Young Chakma Association, Chakma Mahila Samiti, and the Zonal Mizoram Students Union, provided their account of the conflict that occurred on August 19.
They said the incident began when two police officers from Borapansury Police Station, unable to find a vehicle to travel to Kamalanagar, attempted to hire a boat but were refused due to inadequate payment and previous disputes. Enraged, the officers allegedly damaged several boats. When the wives of the boat owners intervened, they were reportedly assaulted by the intoxicated officers. The Chakma Mahila Samiti, upon being informed, attempted to resolve the situation but were also physically attacked.
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According to the statement, the conflict was eventually diffused by the Young Chakma Association and local leaders, with the police officers signing an undertaking. The joint statement condemned the officers, labeling them as habitual drinkers who had been harassing the public, and held them responsible for the incident and the deterioration of police-community relations in Borapansury. The signatories clarified that they bear no responsibility for the social instability caused by the event, attributing it solely to the officers’ misconduct.
Juhnee Chakma, the president of the Central Chakma Mahila Samiti told EastMojo, “As an NGO, we have received many verbal complaints regarding the OC, but no major formal complaints were made. We have kept quiet to avoid any communal disputes. Minor incidents have occurred before, but each one tends to escalate into a communal issue so we prefer to keep quiet. We know we are a minority living in Mizoram, but as Indians, we must have the freedom to live without fear.”
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