Aizawl: K Chhawnthuama, who is now more popular known as the Phantom – a pseudonym he used in his threatening SMSes to Mizoram chief minister Lal Thanhawla – was arrested by Mizoram IR police in Guwahati on Monday night.
K Chhawnthuama was arrested with his aide and cameraman K Lalhruaitluanga by a team of 3rd Bn IR police led by its commandant Zosangliana, following a fresh FIR filed against him by Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee’s media department.
The IR battalion, deployed in Assam had been informed of the presence of K Chhawnthuama in Guwahati and arrested him from Hotel Starline at Paltan Bazar.
Earlier, Chhawnthuama had been arrested for sending threatening SMSes to chief minister Lal Thanhawla in December last year. In the SMSes, he alleged that the Congress party led by Lal Thanhawla won landslide victory in the November 2013 assembly elections after “rigging” the EVMs. He was later released on bail.
In the run-up to the April 11 Lok Sabha elections, Chhawnthuama appeared before local television for two times – disclosing what he claimed to be “evidences of the EVM rigging.”
For the second time on April 4, the ‘Phantom’ appeared before the local televisions, this time going into more details on how the EVMs used in the last state assembly polls were rigged. The video was uploaded by his supporters on social media, and became the hottest election issue.
It triggered protest rally in Aizawl the following day demanding resignation of Lal Thanhawla and his MLAs.
Chhawnthuama, known for his school and a marble tomb he built for his wife on his 24-bigha hilltop compound overlooking Aizawl, has since amassed a large fan following. A “Mizo Phantom Fan Club” on Facebook has more than 42,000 members.
The Aizawl police superintendent on April 8 issued a press statement rubbishing the allegations. It dismissed the “evidences” provided by Chhawnthuama as fabricated information provided by a trickster who they identified as C Lalbiakmawia, 31, alias Michael Chhakchhuak. According to the police, Chhawnthuama paid about Rs 17 lakh to this man for the wrong information.
Feeling undefeated, the Phantom put up another video on social media on Wednesday, saying at least three ministers may not have won the assembly elections had not it been for EVM rigging. Chhawnthuama has dismissed the police statement as a “lie” in this video. In his earlier TV interview, he said Lal Thanhawla too had lost both the seats – Serchhip and Hrangturzo.
Meanwhile, the alleged trickster’s wife has also lodged an FIR against the police for “defaming” her husband.
It was based on the FIR submitted by the Congress media cell that Chhawnthuama has been arrested this time. Chhawnthuama, in his TV interview, alleged that two persons from the Congress media cell, were involved in the EVM rigging.
Owning to his reputation as a church elder, Chhawnthuama appeared to have won many hearts. Hundreds of his supporters have gone to Lengpui Airport near here where he is to be brought home from Guwahati on Tuesday afternoon. (UNI)