PRISM demands fresh probe into pastor's death

Aizawl, May 26 (UNI) The PRISM (People's Right to Information and Development Implementing Society of Mizoram) today demanded a fresh investigation into the alleged murder of Reverend Chanchinmawia.

''The fact that Revd Chanchinmawia had received threat mails several times due to his outright criticism of the government, the circumstances of his death, the manner of the police investigation and the missing of the weapon of crime (found near the pastor's body) indicated that his murder had been meticulously planned,'' the PRISM stated in an appeal submitted to the court of the ADM(J), Chawngtinthanga.

The organisation also appealed to the court to initiate a fresh probe into the matter.

Revd Chanchinmawia, a pastor of the Khatla Presbyterian Church and president of the Mizoram Presbyterian Synod-sponsored Mizoram People's Forum, was found dead under mysterious circumstances at his quarters at Khatla on October 1, 2007.

Initially, he was believed to have committed suicide, based on the statements of his wife and their maidservant. However, this theory raised doubts on the day itself.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT), however, could not find any evidence to support the homicide theory. The SIT report was submitted to the court on December 6, 2007.

Meanwhile, all the Opposition parties also demanded a CBI probe into the death.

UNI ZS DPM RL AS1529