A 29-year-old Army man, who was travelling home on vacation, has been allegedly beaten to death in an incident of road rage in Mizoram’s Kolasib.
Eight people, including two minors, have been arrested. Their friend, Lalchawiliana, who rushed to the spot after hearing the commotion, was also allegedly assaulted.
They then got into a “minor” traffic dispute with a group of youths who were returning after picnic from Kawnpui on National Highway-306 between Bualpui and Thingdawl, the police said. Zakaria died at the spot, while his friend, John Laltanpuia, who was driving the truck, sustained minor injuries, the police said.
Zakaria’s younger brother, Stephen Lalrinngheta, works as a daily labourer to support the family, while his elder brothers and a sister have separated from their parents and run their own families. The 60-year-old said that she and her 80-year-old husband, VL Duailova, a former pastor, are no longer able to earn a livelihood due to their advanced age.
“We cannot understand how a person who lived far away to defend his country and was returning home to spend time with his family could suffer such a fate in the hands of miscreants before even reaching home,” she said. She said that he was the second youngest of five siblings and had been shouldering the responsibility of supporting the family.
