AR dismisses slur on Mizoram minister incident
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, October 19 2024: While asserting that the recent media reports concerning an incident involving the convoy of Mizoram power minister F Rodingliana and Assam Rifles on October 17 are misleading, malicious, and seem intended to damage reputation of AR, Assam Rifles clarified that portrayal of AR deliberately stopping the minister's vehicle is fabrication that misrepresents the actual events.

According to the Assam Rifles, the convoy of minister F Rodingliana on approaching a checkpoint established by AR near Zokhawsang, Aizawl, Mizoram, on October 17 was allowed to pass as per standard procedures.

However, the convoy voluntarily stopped at the location.

Media reports omit the provocation and misconduct by the minister's staff, especially, the public secretary of the minister who verbally abused and forcibly took body cameras from the AR personnel on duty, while other members of the convoy engaged in disruptive behaviour, including unpatriotic remarks like 'go back to India'.

Claiming that videos circulating online clearly show threats by the minister's staff to cut off AR's power supply, AR maintained that the subsequent power outage affecting AR posts across Mizoram appears to be a deliberate move aimed at obstructing their operations.

The assertion that AR obstructed the minister's convoy is a blatant distortion of facts.

Videos from the incident clearly show that a vehicle from the convoy was deliberately positioned to block the road, possibly to manufacture a confrontation.

AR further refuted the accusation of an earlier incident at Kwalbem, Champhai district, Mizoram on October 12, where it was alleged that an intoxicated AR trooper stopped and questioned the minister, which is totally baseless.

Mentioning that the trooper in question has an exempla ry service record spanning 20 years and does not consume alcohol due to religious reasons, AR claimed that in fact, during the incident, the minister's convoy stopped at the checkpoint after the first few vehicles had passed and he confronted the soldiers on duty, insisting they dismantle the checkpoint.

When informed that the soldiers were performing their duties, the minister and his staff began shouting and he directed his escort to forcibly take the trooper into their vehicle, transporting him to a nearby village.

The trooper was released only after the local commander intervened and inquired about the incident.

This constitutes an obstruction of a soldier in the discharge of his duties and an attempt to tarnish the reputation of a dedicated serviceman, it alleged.

AR also maintained that allegations questioning AR's operations in Mizoram due to the absence of AFSPA are unfounded as it is mandated to guard the 510 km Indo-Myanmar border and is also tasked with countering the illegal drug trade-under the NDPS Act.

The organisation chose not to escalate the incident of the trooper's abduction to maintain cordial ties with the Mizoram government, civil society organisations, and local communities.

Power minister F Rodingliana, appears to have acted on his own accord.

The fabricated narrative surrounding the incident undermines AR's sincere efforts to preserve peace and order in the region, it said.

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