Tension grips Mizoram after girl’s rape

AIZAWL - Tension gripped Mizoram’s capital Aizawl and other parts of the state after a powerful NGO imposed a “people’s curfew” asking non-Mizos to remain indoors for four days following the alleged rape of a 13-year-old Mizo girl, officials said Friday.

The influential Young Mizo Association (YMA) imposed the curfew Thursday after Laxman Ravi Das, 25, allegedly raped a 13-year-old girl here late Tuesday.

Police immediately arrested Das, a non-Mizo cobbler, who was living with his family here.

Police said the victim’s family lived next door to Das and both families were close to each other.

“Even though there was ethnic tension because of the imposition of the curfew, no incident was reported from anywhere in the state,” Director General of Police Lalrokhuma Pachuau told reporters.

He said security had been tightened and additional police and para-military troopers were deployed in the mixed population and sensitive areas across the Christian- dominated state.

“Security escorts have been provided to non-Mizo school students and others to prevent any violent incident,” the police chief stated.

Some shops and business establishments, mainly owned by non-Mizos, in the capital and other parts of the state remained closed Friday.