Mizoram ruling party accuses opposition of misinterpreting judgement

Aizawl, Dec 25 (UNI) The ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) has accused the congress led opposition of misinterpreting the judgement of defamation, which had acquitted Congress MLA R Lalzirliana.

MNF statement here today said, ''The judgement never mentioned that MNF government had paid ransom money to insurgents, it only said MLA Lalzirliana's statement was an exception for defamation.'' The MNF government had filed a complaint against Lalzirliana at the court of additional district magistrate ADM(J) Aizawl following his allegation on May eight, 2003 that the MNF government had paid Rs 50 lakhs to Hmar insurgents for the release of six kidnapped NEEPCO officials.

''The public prosecutor moved the court for punishment to the MLA and to find the truth but the court did not find the MLA's allegation sufficient to impose a punishment on an MLA,'' the statement said.

However, the court was convinced that the allegation made by the accused regarding the payment of ransom for releasing the kidnapped persons was ture.

''There is no evidence to prove that the persons who gave the ransom money were government servants and neither there was any evidence to prove that they were messengers sent by the government,'' the statement mentioned.

The judgement further said the imputation made by the accused MLA did not amount to defamation but ''in good faith for the interest of the general public and not for his own personal interest.'' Earlier, Lalzirliana had alleged that Rs 50 lakhs was paid in two instalments. The first one (Rs 35 lakh) was given at the residence of one Tana Darngawn at Madanriting in Shillong.

Later, Hamar insurgents kidnapped one more person, as the remaining amount of Rs 15 was not paid in time as per the agreement.

Finally the government was compelled to pay the demanded money in full.

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