A member of Lungsen branch Young Mizo Association, which is spearheading the community search for Chakma, said the man never returned home from the BDO office.
He also confirmed that the BDO beat him up. Sources alleged that the BDO had last week asked Chakma to saw teak logs which the latter refused on grounds that he did not have partners nor did he have any money to employ labourers. Angered by this, the BDO allegedly withheld the man s wages under MGNREGS.
The BDO s anger was ignited when the Lunglei district Deputy Commissioner scolded him over phone on September 22, following Chakma s complaints to the DC.
Sources said, the BDO rushed to the village on the following day, and found Chakma with other villagers while they were about to attend a marriage ceremony at the local Baptist church. The official then started hitting Chakma, who is a chairman of the local Baptish Church of Mizoram, with his bare hands right in front of the church.