Aizawl/Lunglei, May 2, 2026: A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to probe a major fraud at the Lunglei district jail in south Mizoram, where 16 convicts were illegally released over several months using forged court documents, police said.
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Lunglei Superintendent of Police J. Lalmuankima said the incident came to light only recently after a formal complaint was lodged on April 25. The inmates allegedly secured their release by presenting fake court orders bearing fabricated seals, which misled prison authorities into believing the documents were genuine.
Following the discovery of the irregularity, police launched a manhunt to track down the released convicts. So far, 12 of the 16 convicts have been re-arrested, while one died after his release. Efforts are currently underway to locate the remaining three individuals.
Preliminary investigations suggest that Jeremy Lalthangtura, a 22-year-old inmate, may have been the mastermind behind the operation. Lalthangtura, who was already facing multiple charges including online fraud, has been taken into police custody for further interrogation.
The SIT formed to investigate the case is headed by Lunglei Sub-Divisional Police Officer R. Thankima. Authorities said the investigation is ongoing and more details are expected as the probe progresses.
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Officials indicated that the fraudulent activity is believed to have begun earlier this year, but it remained undetected until last week. The issue surfaced when Lunglei district and sessions court officials could not find records corresponding to certain inmate release orders.
Deputy Superintendent of Lunglei district jail Lalruatsanga said the forged documents closely resembled authentic court orders, complete with fabricated seals and formatting, which initially led prison authorities to accept them as legitimate.
Police are now examining whether the fraud involved external collaborators or possible insider assistance, though officials say it is too early to confirm such involvement.
