Newmai News Network
AIZAWL, APRIL 24
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he 2007 controversial death case of a well known Mizo church leader continues to haunt former Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga.
Pastor Rev Chanchinmawia, the then president of the Mizoram People’s Forum, a Church sponsored organisation for political and electoral reforms, was found dead at his official residence in Khatla locality here on October 1, 2007.
Meanwhile, on Thursday the controversial statement of one Muanhlua over Rev. Chanchinmawia’s mysterious death evoked feud between the ruling Congress and opposition Mizo National Front (MNF).
One Muanhla who was arrested by the police revealed during the interrogation that the then Mizoram chief minister and president of Mizo National Front (MNF) Zoramthanga had paid Muanhla’s friend Lalhluna Rs 5 lakh. Lalhluna is among the six accused in the pastor’s murder case who is absconding.The Congress said that Muanhlua who has been arrested Monday night had spilled the beans about Rev. Chanchinmawia whose death has remained mysterious after he had allegedly committed suicide at his residence at Khatla on October 1, 2007 during the time of MNF rule.
According to the accused Muanhlua, the late Reverend did not commit suicide, but he was murdered. “Six persons were allegedly involved in the heinous crime in which Lalhluna of Thingsai village, a good friend of mine was among the murderers”, Muanhlua is quoted as saying by Congress.
After the crime was committed, Lalhluna was said to have received a huge amount of Rs 5,00,000 from the then chief minister and MNF president Zoramthanga.
Quoting Lalhluna, Muanhlua revealed that the six gruesome murderers stayed the whole day at Capital Complex in Aizawl on the day the crime was committed. After this they were taken to Tripura in a police Maruti Gypsy (dark blue in colour) where they were received by police personnel. “Lalhluna is presently living among MBLF militants”, disclosed Muahlua.
Meanwhile, the Congress alleged that Muanhlua had warned Zoramthanga and blackmailed him to give Rs 20,00,000 and threatened to reveal the crime unless he pays what he demanded. The voice recorded between Zoramthanga and Muanhlua while negotiating over the blackmail money was leaked by Muanhlua. The Congress also questioned as to why not Zoramthanga let Muanhlua be arrested, in case the allegation against him by the latter is a total lie. “Why did he say Rev. Chanchinmawia’s death was a suicide while he let him murdered?”
