Chakma bodies refute claims linking detained foreigner to insurgent group
The groups in Mizoram’s Mamit district dismiss reports as baseless, warn against misinformation, and stress the need for responsible reporting.
File image of Mamit District in Mizoram from where 41-year-old Russian national Igor Babko has been detained (Photo: mamit.nic.in)
Aizawl, April 1: Leading Chakma civil society groups and local authorities in Mamit district today issued a joint rebuttal to reports alleging that a Russian national detained from Rajiv Nagar had links with a Bangladesh-based insurgent outfit.
In a strongly worded statement, the Young Chakma Association (YCA), Chakma Mahila Samiti (CMS), and Mizoram Chakma Students’ Union (MCSU), along with the village councils of Rajiv Nagar-I and II, said the reports were “false, baseless and fabricated”, and lacked any factual verification.
The organisations said the controversy stemmed from widely circulated posts and media reports claiming that the detained foreign national was associated with the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS). They asserted that no such link has been established and cautioned against drawing conclusions without evidence.
An emergency joint meeting convened on March 30 at the Zonal YCA Hall in Rajiv Nagar examined the matter in detail. After what they described as thorough verification at the local level, the participating bodies concluded that the allegations were a product of misinformation with no credible basis.
Condemning the circulation of what they termed “malicious content”, the statement said such reports risk undermining the reputation of the Rajiv Nagar community and could disturb communal harmony in the area.
The joint signatories also took exception to claims attributed to a think tank, the Centre for Northeast India Security Studies (CNEISS), which reportedly sought to connect the alleged arrest with PCJSS activities. The organisations described such assertions as irresponsible and potentially damaging.
“The spread of unverified and misleading information is a matter of serious concern. It misguides the public and erodes trust within society,” the statement said, urging media outlets, individuals, and online platforms to adhere to responsible practices and verify facts before disseminating sensitive information.
Warning of consequences, the bodies said any person or organisation found deliberately spreading false information could face social boycott as well as legal action under relevant laws.
The statement, issued jointly by representatives of the two village councils and leaders of YCA, MCSU and CMS, reiterated their commitment to upholding truth, accountability, and peaceful coexistence in the region.