Mizoram Police arrest youth for circulating fake public holiday circular​

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Aizawl, April 28 (IANS) Mizoram Police have arrested an 18-year-old youth for circulating a fake office circular on social media that falsely declared a public holiday on April 27 due to heavy rainfall in the state, officials said on Tuesday.

According to a senior police official, a complaint was received on April 27 at the Cyber Crime Police Station from the Under Secretary of the General Administration Department of the Government of Mizoram.

The complaint alleged that a fabricated office circular was being widely circulated on social media, misleadingly announcing a public holiday due to heavy rainfall.

The forged document was fraudulently presented as an official notification issued by the General Administration Department.

It was purportedly approved by Irene Zohlimpui Chongthu, Additional Secretary, General Administration Department, and bore a forged digital signature of Ch. Lalnunkima, Deputy Secretary, General Administration Department.

The circulation of the fake document caused considerable confusion and disruption among the public.

Following the complaint, the Cyber Crime Police Station promptly registered a case on April 27 under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and initiated an investigation.

Through sustained, professional investigative efforts, Mizoram Police traced the origin of the fake social media post within 24 hours.

On Tuesday, the accused, identified as Lalramhlua (18), a resident of Upper Republic Veng in Aizawl, was apprehended and taken into custody for further legal action.

In an official statement, Mizoram Police issued a stern warning that the creation, circulation, or amplification of fake news, forged government documents, or misleading content on social media constitutes a serious criminal offence and will invite strict legal consequences.

The statement further emphasised that stringent action will be taken against individuals found engaging in such unlawful activities.

Meanwhile, a Crime Review Meeting was held at the Director General of Police Conference Hall at the Police Headquarters in Aizawl.

The meeting was chaired by the Director General of Police, Mizoram, Sharad Agarwal, and attended by Deputy Inspector Generals and Superintendents of Police from all 11 districts, along with other senior officers from the police headquarters.

–IANS

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The 13th general election to the 300-member Bangladesh Parliament is scheduled to be held on February 12.

In a statement, the RRAG alleged that two independent Buddhist candidates — Pahel Chakma from the Rangamati parliamentary constituency and Dharmajyoti Chakma from the Khagrachari constituency in the Chittagong Hill Tracts — along with members of their campaign teams, have received death threats from the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS).

The rights body claimed that the PCJSS is a government-sponsored armed group led by Jyotirindra Bodhipriyo Larma, also known as Santu Larma, who currently serves as Chairman of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council.

According to RRAG, around 75 armed cadres of the PCJSS have allegedly been deployed since January 29 in the Dudukchara area under Logang Union of Khagrachari district to intimidate indigenous voters and coerce them into supporting candidates of national political parties, including the Bangladesh National Party, Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizens Party.

The rights group also alleged that despite a general diary being filed by Pahel Chakma on January 17, the Bangladesh Police has so far refused to register an FIR, heightening fears among the candidates and their supporters.

In another incident cited by the RRAG, a forged withdrawal letter was allegedly submitted on January 20 by one Bidarshi Chakma to the Deputy Commissioner of Khagrachari district on behalf of Dharmajyoti Chakma, though no action was reportedly taken in the matter.

“As both candidates refused to withdraw from the electoral contest, they have continued to face death threats,” the RRAG claimed.

The rights body said that although the PCJSS formally surrendered its arms following the 1997 Chittagong Hill Tracts Accord, it has allegedly been allowed to retain its armed wing.

It also alleged that Santu Larma has continued as Chairman of the Regional Council for nearly three decades without elections, enjoying the status and privileges of a state Minister.

The RRAG statement also referred to past incidents, including the arrest of 13 alleged PCJSS cadres in Agartala on June 4 last year, and a September 5, 2024, judgement of the Gauhati High Court in the National Investigation Agency versus Rohmingliana case, which described the PCJSS as a terrorist organisation while adjudicating a major arms seizure.

RRAG Director Suhas Chakma alleged that although the PCJSS is not contesting the elections, it has been issuing threats to independent indigenous candidates to ensure the victory of national political parties.

Calling it a serious violation of democratic norms, the RRAG urged international election observers to deploy monitors in the Khagrachari and Rangamati districts, ensure the safety of the affected candidates, and intervene with Bangladesh authorities to prevent further intimidation.

The rights body also called on the Bangladesh government to ensure that PCJSS cadres are confined to government barracks and directed to respect human rights.

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Bihar: Bomb threat disrupts court hearing, Pappu Yadav to remain in jail

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According to officials, court proceedings were immediately suspended after a bomb threat email was received, prompting evacuation and security checks across the premises.​

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Pappu Yadav was arrested late Friday night at his Mandiri residence in Patna.​

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Manipur: Bandh called over killing of village volunteer cripples normal life in Imphal Valley

Imphal, Dec 28 (IANS) Normal life was badly affected in the Imphal Valley comprising five Manipur districts on Saturday due to a 24-hour shutdown called by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) in protest against the killing of a village defence volunteer.

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) called the 24-hour shutdown, which ended on Saturday evening, to protest the killing of a village defence volunteer, and the arrest of six others on December 14.

Police earlier said that village volunteer Laishram Prem was killed and six others were arrested after an encounter with the Manipur police commandos near Salungpham High School in Thoubal district.

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