School torched, tribal house demolished in Mizoram

Aizawl, Feb 27: A primary school was burnt down and a house was demolished at the Chakma tribe inhabited Tuichawng Chhuah village in Mizoram's Lunglei district, an official statement said on Saturday.

Mizoram Chakma Alliance Against Discrimination in its statement said that they would discuss the issue with Congress President Sonia Gandhi who according to them has been raising the issue of the rights of minorities in India.

Confirming the incident, Deputy Commissioner of Lunglei District Abhijit Bijoy Chowdhury told IANS over the phone that he could not provide any further details.

Chakma alliance President Paritosh Chakma in the statement said that on Friday a group of Mizo students burnt down the primary school and demolished a house in an attempt to force the 49 Chakma minority families to vacate the village.

"The minority Chakma families have been living at Tuichawng Chhuah village for over four decades and Mizoram government has extended all the facilities including school, assistance under new farming flagship policy, ration card, voter cards, electricity among others," the president said.

"Additional Deputy Commissioner of Lunglei district on December 17 last year had issued eviction notice to 49 Chakma families to vacate the Tuichawng Chhuah village. Then a writ petition was filed before the Guwahati High Court against the notice and the court stayed the eviction order."

"The Mizoram government has totally failed to protect the Chakma tribal minorities despite the order of the Guwahati High Court. We shall be raising the issue with Congress President Sonia Gandhi who has been raising the rights of minorities in India as to what the Congress government has been doing for persecution of the minorities in Mizoram," he added.

IANS