Mizoram govt keen to hand over dacoity case to CBI

Aizawl, June 6: The Mizoram government has completed all the formalities to hand over the sensational dacoity case, allegedly involving suspended Commandant of the 39th Assam Rifles Colonel Jasjit Singh, to the CBI, state Home minister R Lalzirliana said.

Citing the reasons for its willingness to hand over the case to the CBI, the minister told a press conference that the case has national as well as international implications as gold smuggling racket was at the root-cause of the dacoity.

Lack of modern scientific technology and equipment were also impediments to the investigation as the state police does not have a polygraph or lie-detector machine, he said. "Rumours of involvement of highly-placed people in the case and also Col. Singh's refusal to confess, may force us to hand over the case to the CBI," Lalzirliana said.

The state government, he said, would convey its decision about the case to the CBI during this week. "Even if the CBI agrees to take up the investigation, the state police would give full cooperation to the premier investigating agency and also continue with the investigation till the case is officially handed over to the CBI," he said.

13 people, including Colonel Singh, eight Assam Rifles personnel and four civilians have been arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in connection with the case, the minister said.

A vehicle carrying 52 smuggled gold bars worth Rs 14.5 crore was waylaid on the outskirts of Aizawl on December 14 last by suspected Assam Rifles personnel.

The owner and driver of the vehicle C. Lalnunfela lodged an FIR on April 21 against which a criminal case was registered at Kulikawn Police Station in Aizawl.

PTI