Aizawl: Marina Lalchhanhluahi murder case; public outrage in Aizawl demanding an impartial investigation
Aizawl: Hundreds of people, under the banner Justice for Marina, took to the streets of Aizawl on Thursday, demanding a deeper and more transparent investigation into the brutal death of Marina Lalchhanchhuahi (26). Her highly decomposed body was recovered near Mizoram University (MZU) on December 13, nearly two weeks after she went missing.
Police have named RL Peka (62), a retired government servant who allegedly died by suicide last month, as the prime accused in the case. However, protesters insisted that the crime could not have been committed by Peka alone and alleged the involvement of other accomplices.
The protest march began at Vaivakawn in western Aizawl, passed through Chanmari and the Millennium Centre, and culminated at Vanapa Hall near the state assembly complex. Demonstrators raised slogans demanding transparency and pointed to what they described as serious discrepancies and suspicious circumstances surrounding Marina’s death.
A formal petition was submitted to the Aizawl Superintendent of Police (SP), urging the state police to conduct a thorough investigation and uncover the “full truth” behind the crime.
Addressing the gathering, social activist Khawlrinpuii questioned the extreme level of violence involved. She highlighted the unrecognisable condition of the victim’s body and raised concerns over possible chemical use, suggesting a high likelihood of accomplices in the killing of Marina and her unborn child.
Marina, a resident of Tanhril on the western outskirts of Aizawl, went missing from her home on December 1. Her body was later found near the MZU football ground following an intensive search operation by police, assisted by local volunteers. Bone fragments and eight teeth were also recovered from the site.
Police said the cause of death could not be determined at the time of recovery due to the advanced state of decomposition and the absence of visible external injuries. An autopsy was conducted, and an unnatural death case was registered.
Investigations revealed that Marina was pregnant and was planning to marry an elderly man believed to be a retired government servant. On December 16, police summoned RL Peka, a temporary resident of Tanhril, for questioning. However, he had already been hospitalised after allegedly jumping from his house and later died.
Suspecting his involvement, police searched Peka’s residence and seized his mobile phone and car. Bloodstains found inside the vehicle were later confirmed through forensic tests to match Marina’s blood. CCTV footage showed Peka’s car entering the MZU campus on December 1—the day Marina went missing—and remaining there for over two hours.
Police also found a photograph of a pregnancy test kit on his mobile phone, along with Marina’s phone number saved under a pseudonym. Records showed that this was the last number to call Marina on December 1.
On January 17, police registered a murder case under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at Vaivakawn police station, naming Peka as the prime accused.
Public anger escalated earlier this week when an under-construction multi-storey building allegedly owned by the accused was set on fire, hours after police announced they had unravelled the case.
Residents of Tanhril have continued to demand further investigation, suspecting the involvement of additional accomplices. Tanhril unit Young Mizo Association (YMA) president RS Lalrinsanga said the organisation has urged the Home Department to pursue deeper probes into possible external involvement.
Aizawl SP Zosangliana stated that the case would be expanded if any credible evidence pointing to other perpetrators emerges. “So far, the investigation has identified only Peka as the accused,” he said.
