13 March 2026 – Local residents in Falam township, Chin State, believe a body discovered on 8 March is that of 76-year-old Mr. Kap Lian Thang, a disabled and non-verbal man who went missing after an advance by the State Security and Peace Commission (SSPC) column.
Mr. Kap Lian Thang, from Hlanzawl village, had been internally displaced and disappeared on 26 February after SSPC troops reached the displacement site.
A local resident explained, “We all fled before the SSPC military entered the village. When the SSPC troops arrived at the displacement site, Mr. Kap Lian Thang, being unable to speak or comprehend, likely could not escape and was left behind. He has been missing since that day.”
The unidentified body, reportedly killed by SSPC troops, was found on 8 March near the home of Mr. Van Ro Lian in Rawnzaam Ward, Tuphei village.
While definitive confirmation is not possible due to the circumstances, local residents strongly suspect the remains belong to the missing elder. The community collectively performed a cremation of the body on the same day.
Another local source noted, “There is a strong possibility that the body discovered is that of the missing elder. However, due to various circumstances, a definitive confirmation is not yet possible. The community has now collectively performed the cremation.”
The SSPC troops began their offensive from Kalay township on 21 January, with the stated objective of regaining control of Falam town, and entered Falam Township in February.
As of this report, Mr. Kap Lian Thang remains officially listed as missing, and local residents are continuing to flee to safer locations amid the ongoing military advances by the SSPC. – Reporting by Daniel
