Biakliana, a self-styled Sergeant of the Manipur-based Hmar People’s Convention Democrats, was most recently accused as the mastermind and leader of the March-end ambush on a convoy of Mizoram MLAs in the state’s northern border with Manipur, an attack that killed three and injured six others.
He was captured by troops of the Assam Rifles on Friday evening while riding a boat on the Barak river on the inter-state border between Manipur and Assam. Mizoram Police later took him into custody and brought him to Aizawl on Sunday.
Biakliana is the latest militant to be arrested by Mizoram Police since the deadly ambush: others include “Army Chief” Lalropui Famhoite, “Finance Secretary” Norbar Sanate and “Sergeant” Lalchuailo alias L Hmar.
Another “sergeant”, Malsawmkima, who defected from the Mizoram Police and took off with two rifles and about 250 rounds of ammunition to join the militant group last year, was killed in an encounter with Mizoram Police commandos in May within Manipur. He was also part of the dozen HPCD men who took part in the ambush.
State Home Minister R Lalzirliana said with Biakliana’s arrest, the Mizoram Police will continue to hunt down eight other men who took part in the ambush and who remain at large. Four have either been arrested or killed, one by his fellow-militants.
Lalzirliana ruled out any talks with the group unless several guns and ammunition stolen or seized from Mizoram Police personnel in ambushes over the past few years are first returned.
Source:Indian Express
