American allegedly punched at Lengpui Airport

May 7th, 2007 12:19 pm by trekkerboy

Douglas G. Kelly, Director, American Centre Kolkata in a letter to Pu L. R. Sailo, Director of DIPR alleged that an airport staff H. Vanlalrova punched him in the back three times during heavy rush at check-in.

Mr Kelly was in Aizawl to establish relationship with academic institutions most notably Mizoram University.

H. Vanlalrova denied the allegation (zonet.in).

Extract from the letter:

When non-Mizos who had been patiently waiting complained, they were insulted by airport staff and told that it will be done this way because “this is Mizoram”. As I was guarding my luggage and standing in the queue, I was roughly punched in the back three times by one of the airport staff and told to let Mizos get into the queue before me(I looked at the airport badge of the man who hit me- his name is H. Vanlalrova). None of the airport guards or other staff, who witnessed this physical attack on me, lifted a finger to protect me or tell Mr. Vanlalrova that his behavior was unacceptable. I was left to understand that the entire airport staff was involved in an attempt to make non-Mizos feel threatened and to feel like second-class citizens.

I recieved a a full text copy of the letter. I am unsure if we could publish it. Please advise.

Read more here(zawlbuk.net) and here(zawlbuk.net). Also here (uniindia.com).

Thanks to Hruaia (University of Hyderabad) for the news.

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30 Responses to “American allegedly punched at Lengpui Airport”

  1. 1
    Mizopa Says:

    Va zahthlak thin e aw.

    I also read this comment by Mr.Kelly in the uniindia website link “”After this experience, and despite our positive interaction with students at the Mizoram University, we are giving a second thought to moving forward with this initiative,” Mr Kelly said.”

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  2. 2
    vawrselapa Says:

    Every details of the letter is published in the local dailies, why hesitate to do here? Please do publish the full text of the letter here for misuals, who were out of the state.

    I have no idea on this issue. By the way, I think some employee of Mizoram Government must learn how to behave.

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  3. 3
    benjamin Says:

    @vawrselapa: Thanks. I was not aware of that. Here’s the letter

    May 1, 2007

    Mr. L. R. Sailo, Director
    Department of Information and Public Relations
    Government of Mizoram
    Aizawl: Mizoram

    Dear Mr. Sailo:

    First let me say how much we at the American Centre, Kolkata enjoyed our recent visit to Aizawl, Mizoram. From April 11-14, two Indian staff members and I visited Aizawl with the purpose of establishing a relationship with academic institutions there, most notably Mizoram University, and also to get to know the local press and media. The Public Affairs Section of the American Centre, Kolkata, has responsibility, under the overall guidance of the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, for public outreach programs in the twelve states of eastern India, and it was our wish to include Mizoram in these affairs.

    As I have said, we wished to get to know the faculty and students of universities and colleges in Mizoram, starting with Mizoram University, with the goal of facilitating academic and knowledge exchange between American institutions of higher learning and those in Mizoram. Our interactions at Mizoram University were quite favourable and we were looking forward to encouraging U.S. colleges and universities to consider developing partnerships with counterparts in Mizoram.

    Having said this, I feel it is my duty to relate to you an experience we had at Lengpui Airport on the afternoon of April 14, as we prepared to depart for Kolkata. The airport was full of passengers whose flight two days previously had been canceled due to inclement weather, and they had been waiting without assistance from Indian Airlines ever since then to get a flight to Kolkata. They surrounded the ticket counter and would not permit us to check-in until they were satisfied that Indian Airlines and the airport authorities would assist them to leave Lengpui Airport that very day. After several hours of chaos, a compromise of some sorts was reached and these disgruntled passengers permitted us to check-in for our flight.

    We and many other passengers had patiently queued for all this time, waiting for a solution to be reached and the check-in procedures to begin. However, as soon as check-in began the airport staff brought Mizos who had not been in line to the front of the queue so that they could check-in before Mizos. When non-Mizos who had been patiently waiting complained, they were insulted by airport staff and told that it will be done this way because “this is Mizoram”. As I was guarding my luggage and standing in the queue, I was roughly punched in the back three times by one of the airport staff and told to let Mizos get into the queue before me(I looked at the airport badge of the man who hit me- his name is H. Vanlalrova). None of the airport guards or other staff, who witnessed this physical attack on me, lifted a finger to protect me or tell Mr. Vanlalrova that his behavior was unacceptable. I was left to understand that the entire airport staff was involved in an attempt to make non-Mizos feel threatened and to feel like second-class citizens.

    After this experience, and despite our positive interaction with academics and students at Mizoram University, we are having second thoughts about promoting partnerships between U.S. universities and those in Mizoram. We do not feel comfortable encouraging American professors or other academics to go to Mizoram, if they will be threatened with violence and discrimination, such as we were in the airport. Accordingly, we are reconsidering whether it is appropriate to move forward with this initiative. I am writing to you because we believe it is important to let you know of our concerns in this regard, and to ask you to work to ensure the safety of non-Mizos, including foreign diplomats such as myself, who travel to Mizoram.

    I look forward to meeting you on my next trip to Aizawl. In the meantime, please stop by the American Centre if you are in Kolkata and we can discuss this matter.

    Sincerely,

    Douglas G. Kelly
    Director, American Centre
    Kolkata

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  4. 4
    Mizopa Says:

    My suggestion would be for many people to write letters to him – maybe this could help, since his decisions would have far reaching ramifications esp. visas to the US – and not only from Calcutta consulate but word will spread to other consulates too.

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  5. 5
    Band Says:

    This is higly unexcepptable and the Governent of Mizoram should take responsibilities.. such a high profile, senior diplomat, comming to Mizoram should be given protocol arrangement due to him.. he should be escorted by officials from Mizoram Government and should be kept in the VIP Lounge rather than let him alone with the crowd…Mizoram Government should take note of this and learn lessons form this event…. Governmne tof Mizoram should also make formal appology to the US Embassy immediately!!!!! hui hamsss

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  6. 6
    Mizopa Says:

    I agree with what Band says – it was irresponsible of the govt not to give protocol arrangements to such a senior person, and they should immediately try and undo the damage done.

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  7. 7
    islander Says:

    Am with you Band & Mizopa : I was there at Airport on this day to receive my guest and due to late arrival i went over to cafeteria site there I saw Zoramthanga MNF VC Member who was seeing off his wife. It was litterally rampage, the security nor the handling agent were smart enough to control the crowd. It was Wing Commdr Joe Lalhminga who came to announce “All passengers will be accommodated as Imphal passengers were transferred to other aircraft to give seats for those stranded passengers at Lengpui” only then it was cooled down.

    It was very sad that the Protocol Dept/Tourism/Public Relations/Mizoram University took the pain to see off Mr Kelly.

    We should condemn these barbaric act and and press Govt to apologise to Kelly and give stricture to Zoramthanga for his unbecoming act.

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  8. 8
    islander Says:

    Kelly photo see this link
    https://kolkata.usconsulate.gov.....40807a.jpg

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  9. 9
    Trance_boy Says:

    zahthlak eee….Mizo te hi aww…hnamdang hi zah ve deuh hlek ila…abik Lengpui airport a thok ho phei hi chuan…Hospitality hi zir an ngai ani….Kolkata ah phei chuan American Center chu an zah tehreng nena.. a kawtah kan kal thei tawk ania….poi ve oo..USA kal don ah buaithlak vek don nih hi…Dont give Mizoram a bad name…

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  10. 10
    islander Says:

    Am with you Band & Mizopa : I was there at Airport on this day to receive my guest and due to late arrival i went over to cafeteria site there I saw Zoramthanga MNF VC Member who was seeing off his wife. It was litterally rampage, NEITHER the security nor the handling agent were smart enough to control the crowd. It was Wing Commdr Joe Lalhminga who came AND announced “All passengers will be accommodated as Imphal passengers were transferred to other aircraft to give seats for those stranded passengers at Lengpui” only then it was cooled down.

    It was very sad that the Protocol Dept/Tourism/Public Relations/Mizoram University DID NOT TAKE the pain to see off Mr Kelly.

    We should condemn these barbaric act and and press Govt to apologise to Kelly and give stricture to Zoramthanga for his unbecoming act.

    Report this comment

  11. 11
    G-Wiz Says:

    Why am I not surprised?? :o

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  12. 12
    G-Wiz Says:

    Call it Hollywood’s influence… Blood Diamond. – “This is Africa”

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  13. 13
    Chicco Renthlei Says:

    I seriously think some form of action should be done on that character named H. Vanlalrova. I wouldn’t give a shit if he was fired.

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  14. 14
    westcoast Says:

    Ni reng dawn a sin, hnam dang hmusit leh zah loh, tihduhdah te hi sim a ngai reng a ni, tun a mi ang hian mipawimawh tak an ni thei reng a nia. Kan mizia tam tak hi kan sim loh chuan hnamdang American professors te pawh lo kal se, they will be treatened and discriminated. Sawrkar hnathawk vai thenkhat pawn Zorama awm te chu inhremna angah an ngai reng a ni lawm ni kha! Thenkhat lahin loh theih loh avanga lo awm te an nih ve hi.

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  15. 15
    Maimawm Says:

    High profile, senior diplomat anih na lam pang dah bo khan, mi hausa leh high profile kher lo pawh hi mihring pangai in treat dan ang a in treat ve hi zir hi pawimawh ber. Keini Mizo te, khilai airport ami te pawh kan ti deuh kher teh ang, an mi treat dan em em hi Mizo ngei pawh, an mak em em lututk hrim hrim. Mi hausa, minister, ‘high profile’ kher chauh hi biakthrat tur emaw te an ti lutuk emaw ka ti thrin em aww.

    Keima personal experience ah chuan airport hrang2 ah hian ka zin ve tawhna tawh na zawng zawng ah, where I’m made to feel the smallest, most ignored, & ill-treated is in my own hometown. Lengpui airport ang em em a biak har mi awmkhawmna airport hi ka la tawng ngai lo.

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  16. 16
    apatea Says:

    Mizote hian a hmasa berin hnamdang nena nun tlan hi kan zir a ngai. Ka insual pui loh vek leh kan tlawn zel a, tlukpuiin kan kawm thei tlat thin lo. Mizoram awm chauhte nilovin, mizoram pawna awmte pawhin hnam dang nena co-existance hi chu kan la thiam tawk lo tlat.

    He thil thlengah hian hellaia police officer an puh chauh hi a demawm tlat lo. University te mikhual delegate pawimawh tak a ni a, hellai hmunah hian Univ lam atangin thlah tu an awm miahlo em ni? Chhan tu a neilo hi a mak ka ti hle mai. Hetiang anga mizote tana mi tangkai/poimoh ltk tur si an thlah thlam mai2 hi University thuneitute pawh hi an thiam lo hulhual a ni!! MZP CHET HUN A VA NI EM!! University lam thil hi an dinchhan ah tel ve tak ang maw?!
    Tin, kan airport hi Mizoram luhka ber a ni mek a, a ni chho zel dawn a, a thawk te hi police satliah emaw ni mai lovin ‘customer care’ lam ah training nei thei se ka va ti em. English thiam leh EDUCATED deuh hlek te rawih ni ve teh sela aw. Mizote setana bia chanchinbu a chhuahin kan hming a tichhia kan tih ang vel tho khan kan airport personnel te an chet that loh chuan hmingchhiatna nasa tak a thleng ve tho si.
    Sigh. Hmingthat hi tum ang u heheh

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  17. 17
    ccpur_man Says:

    Temper controll lo lutuk hi chu, mahni hming chauh ni lo, hnam hming tichhetu an ni thei thin a sin maw aw ! A pawi teh zawng a ni e ! !

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  18. 18
    rka_49er Says:

    a lehlam sawi hriat hma hma hian in pawr lutuk deuh thin em le. side hrang hrang atang ten i thlir thin ila a tha khawp mai.

    News ka hriat tirh chuan tha ka ti lo lutuk. A tuk lawkah a lehlam pawl thusawi a rawn chhuak leh a, a tu nge dik a tu nge thiamlo sawi thiam har deuh a sin. Mi pawisawi lo awm mai mai kut em han inthlak hi chu har tak a ni. Hemi hma lam hian flight cancel a awm nual avangin thlawh loh hlau mipui an innek buai nasa hle a, lo thinrim tawk chu a awm theih tehmeuh mai. Mahse sap nang ai palian kha hnek dawn ta la, a khawi lai nge i tum hmasak ang, kei chu a lu lamah sin ka tuan dawn anih loh chuan a nak leh dul thuar velah aniang. A sappa hian engtin emaw a lo tawngkhum, etc. pawh a ni ve thei tho a sin. Dinthar VC member Pu Zoramthanga’n ka vai kiang a tih pawh hi a dik zawk mai thei a sin. Vanlalrova hian a hnek ngei a nih chuan thuhretu an awm ang, airport ang puipunna hmunah chuan. Thuneitute pawn an phu tawk ang hremna an pe ngei tur a ni. Chutih rualin sap pa hian dawt a sawi anih erawh chuan hrilhfiah a ni ngei tur a ni a na taka dawt a sawi avanga demna thu pawh ziah lan tel ngei nise a tha awm e.

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  19. 19
    apatea Says:

    Ka ngaih ve dan mai2: Dawt sawi tur meuha DIPR lehkha an thawn peih chu ka ring lo na in anlo uar ve hlek chu a ni thei mahna…

    A pawi ber zawk chu Mizo leh mizo-lo hetianga inthliarna a awm hi niin ka ngai. Heng delegate-te lawmloh hi zoram zirlai leh zirtur zel te tan a pawi em em a, scholarship , foreign education leh Univ 2 te inzawmna tur hlu tak kha a hlamzuih phah thei dawn niin a lang a, he hi a uihawm em a ni.

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  20. 20
    kotlaman Says:

    rka_49er, i ngaihdan hi ka ngaihdan chiah a ni. Thil thleng duhawmlo tak a ni ngei mai. Kelly-a hian dawt a sawi vek kher lo bawk ang. Mahse lehlam pang sawi ngaichang miah lova kan Mizo pui ngei kan lim nghal erh mai hi mak ka lo ti ve mai mai. Mizoten hnamdang chhawnchhaih kan zir a tul tih chu kan hre vek mai. He thil pawh hian a tilang chiang lehzual. Vai an ni emaw Sap anni emaw mihang an ni emaw kan ram a anlo kal chuan kan mikhual te an ni a, mikhual be chhe ngailo hnam inti kan ni a, (mahse heihi chu a diklo chiang bal.thlenna hnawng hman atangin an awm. Aizawlah phei chuan thlen in hmuh a har thei lutuk circa 60′s and 70′s), kan hawihhawm lehzual a tul. Tan ila thar vek ang.

    Tin apatea sawi ang hian university guest a nih chuan MZU mi leh sa ten buaipui thlap awm tak(mahse thlahtute luh theih chin a awm ve khi,ha ha)

    Engpawhnise khatiang thil ang chi midangin ka hnampui te an puhna ang ah kha chuan mizopa thu ka hriat ve hma chu sawiphar mai ka tumlo ve tlat !! DIPR lam erawh chuan formal apology an siam chu a that ka ring. Diplomat pakhat airport-a a duh ang zan lova an lo treat avanga Bush-a sawrkarin Mizoram an hnualsuat phah dawn a nih chuan democrat ho tling se a va tha mai awm ve!!

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  21. 21
    hleizuama Says:

    Zofate te leh Zoram hmelmawina hi kan ngaipawimawh tlang hle anih tih comment hrang hrang atang hian a hriat theih a . A lawm awm hle ani. Kan Ram chhuahka deuh deuh ah te hian, a bik taka mikhual dawn sawn thiam tura training tha tak nei, in dah thei ila. Kan hnam hmel a ti mawi viau dawn ani.

    Kan awmna chin chinah, a chhe lam a ni emaw, a thra lam ani emaw, Zofate leh Zoram hmel kan ni ani tih hre rengin, Mizo nun ze mawi, tlawmngaihna, huaisenna leh rinawmna i vawng tlat ang u khai. Kan hnam ze mawi te hi kan par chhuah tir chuan, HNAM zahawm tak kan ni ngei ang.

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  22. 22
    Vladimir Putin Says:

    Boxint match today at lengpui airport stadium

    Douglas G.Kelly (senior American dipliomat) Vs H.Vanlalrova (junior employee)

    Admission free

    Duoglas G.Kelly is sponsored by Misualdotcommers, a non-profit, no-nonsense uorganisation of net (not fishing net) lovers. H.Vanlalrova is supported by the government of (SOTE) Switzerland of the East (co-sponsored by North Wing of SRS (Stupid Roving Savages).

    Umpire: Passangers of Kingsisher Airline (since that airline does not fly to SOTE, it is presumed that thier passagers will be more neutral.
    Prize; A whole case of Jonhny Walker Blue label (original)

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  23. 23
    Chicco Says:

    Cool comment, Vlad…

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  24. 24
    mi(sual).com » 2007 » May » 09 Says:

    [...] Boxint match today at lengpui… [...]

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  25. 25
    anonymous Mizo Says:

    @Maimawm, nia tiraw, keipawh i sawi ang hian ka chhungte hi ka lo hril ve tawh a, Police leh staff duty ho te khi, mi thilti thei mi lar deuh zin vei vak chu an lo ti huam a, vai vai hi kan tia, kan hmusit a, vai ang chiah hi kan ni, kan han chet dan mi thilti thei kan han intlawn siak dan hi, airport hi darthlalang ang deuh a ni. Mi thil ti thei hmel deuh fa ni awm te hi an lo be duat thei ania, an chet dan hi a tenawm ka ti.

    Hemi article a ka comment tel ve leh duh mai mai chu, India ram hmun dangah te chuan sap ram (like US, UK etc) university te nen in zawm na a lo awm na rei tawh a, tunah US university in North east a mite a rawn target ve tan ta a ni a, thalai lo phur deuh tana an hriat a tana tha mai mai tur chu, eng ang university chiah nge anih? sap ram a awm a nih avang khan engkim tha leh ropui a ni vek kher lo, UK ah te khuan a hming a university ni si, mahse class room pawh nei mumal lo te hi tamtak a awm a, foreign students abik takin ram thang mek ram atanga lo kal te ‘attract’ na tan an in advertise ve thin a, an sumdawnna a ni ber, chu vangin sap ram chu ngaisang pawh ni mah ila, eng ang university nge, eng ang course content te nge awm, eng ang nge an university administer dan te etc, chiang taka hriat a tha. Bakah Brochure nalh tak te pawh hi a tak tak tihna a ni kher lem lo. Tin, hepa a lo kal ngei pawh hian commision te a nei ve ngei ang. University fees mai bakah hian ama chan pual atan enge maw chen chu commision te a nei ve ngei ang, student hetia ram dang dang ami a rawn recruit kual hian. Thenkhat hetiang student recruiter te hi business minded deuh te an tam ve a, zirlai an duhna ram hmuna admission an hmuh theih nan a hetia an lo recruit leh seminar an neih vel man te, an commision man te, university fee zingah an ti tel vek thin a, chuvangin university fee pangai aia tam an chawi ani mai.

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  26. 26
    anonymous Mizo Says:

    @Kotlaman–….”Tin apatea sawi ang hian university guest a nih chuan MZU mi leh sa ten buaipui thlap awm tak..”

    Keichu a tulna ka hrelo, ama personal business anih hmel, university in rawn delegate pawh nise, MZP emaw MZU emaw in an zu thlah a tulna ka hre lo. Chutih rual chuan, Mizo te hian hnamdang biak vel dan hi chu kan zir a ngai khawp mai, ti hurh a biak pawh a ni lo, a mawi leh a polite tawka hnamdang biak chu a pawi lo.

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  27. 27
    SiLent_Man Says:

    tun kumthara aizawl atanga ka chuk leh lam pawh kha ka hand baggage an han check tur kha duty pa, patling ve tawh tak chuan hawihhawm lo zet leh ring tak maiin mai hian “Eng teh vak nge maw i hnawh el ul le?” (or somthin to that effect) min han ti ngawt a. What bussiness was it of his to worry about what i had in my hand baggage, i know it looked kinda big but it was within the allowed limits.

    Mizo nge nge kan rilru a lian kan ti zawk dawn nge moni

    mipui serve tur kan nihna hmuh hmaih hian theihna lai laia in lulin hi kan duh thin ni berin a lang.

    Remember what Spidey said… “With great power comes great responsibilities”. applies even without the “great”s

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  28. 28
    apatea Says:

    @Kotlaman says:
    “Tin apatea sawi ang hian university guest a nih chuan MZU mi leh sa ten buaipui thlap awm tak(mahse thlahtute luh theih chin a awm ve khi,ha ha)”

    He thu ka ziak dawn khan ka rilru a awm ve tho a nia, mahse ngun takin ka han ngaihtuah a (hehe) checkin an la tilo a nih chuan barrigade a an hung chin, thlahtute tana hmuh phak chin ah an la awm ngei ka ring a. Engpawhnise, hetiang ang mi (mizo te tana) pawimawh (?) te hi chu airport authority te hial pawh thlahtute an awm chuan lo han hrilh mahse a poina ka hre lemlo, considering how infrequently we have important delegates. Heti khawpa ka’n ngaipawimawh na chhan chu Smokie lo kalte paw’n khati khawp khan a hmuaktu thlahtu etc kha an tam a, kelly hi celeb ni ve lo mahse, MZP & MZU te tan tal hi chuan a celeb ve thokhat viau ah ka ngai.
    Foriegn scholarship leh student visa hmuh theihna kawng a ni tih leh student visa poimawhna hmu pha an la tlem deuh a niang e

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  29. 29
    pimpom_z Says:

    H.Vanlalrova chu suspend se a thra ang…mol em mai…a fate lak ah pon sual ngot ang(pa anih chuan)…a corrupt bok ang….lol

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  30. 30
    rka_49er Says:

    H.Vanlalrova’n a hnek lai hmutu tumah an awm lo!

    Zonet pawn a investigate tawh, kha thu kha aizawl titi ah a lang pha lo, a zuzi ral mai2 tawh, mi han zawh pawn kha Sap chapo khan dawt a sawi niang, a nih loh pawn Dinthar VC Member nen an innek kha hnek a ti ta mai a niang, an ti zel. khami ni a flight cancel sak toh ho kal loh hlau leh khami ni a zin ngei tum in chuh ho innek buai nasat zia hretu an awm teuh e.

    Ka sawi leh pek thin ang, kha sap pa kha hnek dawn ta ila a hmai emaw a pangti nem lai ka tum ngei ang, a hnung zanga hnek te zong sap palianah chuan a thawk nep awm e mai.

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