2 min readGuwahatiMay 24, 2013 03:50 AM IST
First published on: May 24, 2013 at 03:50 AM IST
An explosion rocked Aizawl in the early hours of Thursday partially damaging a temple located inside the compound of the 26 Battalion Assam Rifles. It coincided with a rally organised by Mizo National Front to protest,among other things,Chief Minister Lal Thanhawlas reported idol worship in public two years ago.
The explosion occurred at around 1:30 am with the police suspecting it to be the handiwork of miscreants.
We have not been able to ascertain the identity of the miscreants who caused the explosion that damaged window panes. Preliminary investigations indicate the miscreants used gelatin sticks to cause the explosion, Aizawl ASP C Lalruaia said.
The Mizo National Front too suspected that the explosion was caused by some miscreants in order to discredit its rally. We are not concerned about the explosion except that those who caused it looks like had intention to tarnish the MNFs image, a party spokesperson said.
The MNF rally,which was originally planned as Milem Biak Duhlohna Kawngzawh or anti-idol worshiping rally to register protest against the reported idol worship by Lal Thanhawla and his wife Lal Riliani,however,focussed more on the alleged failure of the Congress government to fully implement certain clauses of the Mizo Peace Accord of 1986. MNF president and former chief minister Zoramthanga also hit out at Lal Thanhawla for worshipping a Hindu goddess.
The reported incident happened in 2011 when a newspaper carried a photograph of the Chief Minister and his wife lighting a candle in front of a Durga idol. Opposition parties,including the MNF,had criticised him of betraying Christianity.
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