Guwahati, 20th July: Assam Director General of Police (DGP) GP Singh has confirmed that Lalbikung Hmar, one of the three militants killed in a recent exchange of fire in Cachar district on July 17, had a recorded history of involvement in terrorism.
According to DGP Singh, Lalbikung Hmar, son of Lal Thavel Hmar, was previously arrested on June 4, 2019, by police at Lakhipur Police Station in Cachar district. He was found in possession of arms and ammunition and was registered under Case No. 152/19 of Lakhipur PS by Assam Rifles, supported by FIR details and photographs taken at the time. Additionally, Hmar was also arrested in Case No. 116/19 of Lakhipur PS in the same district.
This revelation comes in response to demands for a thorough investigation by the families of the deceased militants. The kin of the three militants, Lallungawi Hmar, Lalbikung Hmar, and Joshua Lalrinsang, have asserted that the deceased were law-abiding citizens with no criminal backgrounds and requested justice.
In a letter to the officer in charge of Lakhipur Police Station, the parents of the victims detailed the events of July 17. They reported that, based on a statement from the Cachar Superintendent of Police (SP), the Assam Police conducted a special operation around Bhuban Hills in Cachar district. During this operation, three militants wearing Kevlar vests and helmets were apprehended after a firefight. The injured militants later succumbed to their injuries and were pronounced dead at Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH) in Cachar, Assam.
The contrasting narratives highlight the complexity and sensitivity surrounding the incident, with authorities standing by the militant background of the deceased and families calling for a fair investigation to ascertain the truth.
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