Mizoram: Chakma House attacked in Aizawl, AICSF demands deployment of Central security forces

The Chakma House of the Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC) in Mizoram’s capital city Aizawl has come under violent attack by a mob of Mizos claiming themselves to be leaders of the Mizo Students’ Union (MSU) today at around 2.50 pm.

About a dozen MSU leaders barged into the Chakma House located at Hunthar Veng locality of Aizawl and started to intimidate the minority Chakmas who are staying at the Chakma House and vandalized the properties.

The attackers locked up the Liaison Officer (LO) of Chakma House, Mr Purno Kumar Tongchangya, who is a gazetted officer serving under the Government of the Chakma Autonomous District Council, in one room for over 15 minutes and intimidated him. Thereafter, the attackers vandalized properties damaging computers, printers, almirah, tables, chairs etc in the Office room of the Chakma House.

Leaders of the Mizo Students Union vandalized office properties during the attack at the Chakma House in Aizawl on 28.09.2017

When the Chakmas who were present on the spot tried to stop the MSU leaders or tried to take photos, they were assaulted by the attackers. One Mr Satyajit Chakma was physically assaulted when he tried to take photos of the violence.

The MSU leaders claimed that they were attacking the Chakma House in reprisal to the alleged attack upon Mizo students by Chakmas in Kamalanagar, headquarters of the Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC) on 26 September which is factually incorrect. The MSU leaders warned that Chakmas will face serious reprisals/ attacks if they (Chakmas) dared to challenge the Mizos at any point of time.

Before leaving the Chakma House, the attackers asked the L.O. Mr Purno Kumar Tongchangya to evict all the guests (Chakmas) staying at the Chakma House and that they will come back tonight to check.

Earlier this morning, the Mizo Students Union leaders prevented the Chakma students from attending schools at Chawngte/Kamalangar in Lawngtlai district following a small incident on the football ground on 26 September. On 27 September, an order was issued by Mr Vanlalzuia, Secretary, MSU Sub-Headquarters, Chawngte, imposing a ban on all the Chakma students from attending educational institutions including Chawngte ‘L’ Government High School under Lunglei district, Chawngte ‘P’ High School and Chawngte ‘P’ Higher Secondary School under Lai Autonomous District Council (LADC) and the Kamalanagar College at Kamalanagar under Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC) in Lawngtlai district.

AICSF condemns the attack

The New Delhi-based lobby group, All India Chakma Social Forum (AICSF) has strongly condemned the attack on the Chakma House and minority Chakmas allegedly by the Mizo Students Union leaders and sought the immediate interventions from the Ministry of Home Affairs.

In a letter to the Ministry of Home Affairs submitted immediately after the attacks on the Chakma House, the AICSF has demanded the immediate deployment of Central security forces to guard the Chakma Houses in Aizawl and Lunglei and in the Chakma inhabited areas of Mizoram given the failure of the state police to protect the Chakmas.

Speaking to The aPolitical over the phone, the AICSF’s Secretary General Mr Paritosh Chakma stated that the hostilities against the minority Chakmas in Mizoram have increased ever since four Chakma students secured ranks in the Merit List of National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) but were denied MBBS seats on 20 July 2017 following violent protests by the Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP).

“The attack of the Chakma House of the Government of Chakma Autonomous District Council at the heart of Aizawl city proves two things. First, the law and order situation with respect to the Chakmas has totally collapsed in Mizoram, and secondly, the Chakma minorities are nowhere safe in the state. If such barbaric attacks can happen inside the Chakma House which is guarded by the police 24×7, Chakmas are not safe anywhere. The atmosphere of fear and intimidation against the Chakmas have increased in the state ever since the Mizoram government cancelled the MBBS seats of four Chakma students, despite clearing the NEET, following strong protests by the MZP”, Mr Paritosh Chakma said.

Source Gautamya Changma