On 13 June 1890, Browne held a durbar of chiefs and announced that Lengpunga and Jarok would be deposed from chieftainship for a term of four years for their raid on Chengri Valley and fined 15 guns.
Browne had to choose the punishment carefully to balance the interests of not antagonizing the chiefs and not showing weakness in the British occupation of the Lushai Hills.
Khalkam who realized that revenue would be taken from the chiefs and their freedom to hunt their own jungles led him to cast aside his oath of fealty with Browne.
[5] Khalkam using his influence got another chief, Thansuma, with a war party to ambush Browne during his travels between Fort Aijal and Changsil.
[9] Thansuma, a subordinate chief to Khalkam, (not Thanruma, his brother) was chiefly responsible in the ambush and murder of Captain Browne.
[6] Melville recorded at 9am a sepoy and four coolies arriving at the fort and informing of shots being fired at their party from Thanruma's village.
The same day, a missing sepoy arrived at the small fort without weapons or ammunition, which he had hidden in the jungle and escaped from the Lushais along with two coolies.
The following morning the coolies cut more jungle and assembled logs lying outside to strengthen the structure of the stockades and make the fortifications bulletproof.
Melville utilised Brown's tins of cocoa and milk after wet and cold nights in the stockades to maintain morale among the sepoys and officers.
Lieutenant Cole, via heliograph, assured that a party of 200 sepoys would arrive to relieve Fort Aijal and questioned how much ammunition was remaining.
Sailenpui's village would be deserted via an observation made by Melville on 17 September, prompting the British to assume whether he had joined Khalkam and the rising or mainly just travelled to harvest their jhums.
Melville would relay the state of the fort and the remaining amount of rations fit for only a week and only consisting of lentil and ghee.
[13] The relief force sonsited of 200 men from the Surma Valley Military Police from Silchar led by A.C Tytler and Lieutenant R.R Swinton of the 44th Benagl Infantry.
[12] Surgeon Captain Melville and Lieutenant H.W.G Cole were credited for defending Aijal and Changsil by holding out for reinforcements via the Dhaleswari river.
[9] Chief Commissioner of Assam, Quinton, commented on Melville's leadership and novelty in military affairs and handling the siege with 110 native officers and 43 individuals who suffered from the weather, food shortages and lack of warm clothing.
[3][15] McCabe accompanied the Surma Valley Police Battalion to bring about the surrender and submission of the Western Lushai chiefs.
[12] Investigations after the surrender of the Western Lushais implicated Lienkhunga as the conspirator who led to Captain Browne's murder and Lieutenant Swinton's death.
During the rainy season, the British didn't make a lot of contact with eastern chiefs enabling them not to be taxed or levied for coolie quotas.
On 4 April, Lalbura and Poiboi raided the Boruncherra tea estate in Hailakandi to divert the British forces in vain.
[27] McCabe began a practice of burning down villages and specifically targeting grain storages to force the Lushais to cooperate.
[28] Before attacking Poiboi in 1892, McCabe wrote:[29] I cannot reiterate too strongly how firmly I am convinced that burning a Lushai village and withdrawing is no punishment.
[28] C.S Murray, the first political officer of the Southern Lushai Hills were to pacify the tribes and to implement the policies of house tax and coolie quotas.
There was little to no fighting in the South Luahsi Hills and Johgn Shakespear with Lt. Townsey had been reinforcing the British troops in the north against the western and eastern risings.
Murray attempted to explain his intentions by threatening to Zakapa that failure to do so would see his wife and the wives of other chiefs be taken from them to fulfil this demand.
Being vastly outnumbered, Murray opted to escape through a hilly stream, leaving behind his men, ammunition, money and supplies.
[34] Subadar Sangram Singh and Havildar Chandra Sing Thapa of the Chittagong F.P distinguished themselves in the skirmish with Subedar losing an arm.
[20] However, success was made in capturing allied chiefs of Zakapa such as Lalchuma, Dokopa, Kapchunga and Leinkhama who were arrested but liberally treated.
A fine of 30 guns, 1 gayal, 10 pigs, 10 goats, 20 chickens and 100 maunds of rice were demanded to be brought to the Mat river to the column.
Bugler Doluta saved Captain Shakespear's life by shooting a hidden musketman inside the Chief's house.
[43] On Porteus' report on the history of 1896-1897, he comments that:[44] I leave the district with practically all the Chiefs reconciled to Government, and with, I believe, not the least likelihood of any future distrubance of the peace.... Lalbura received me in his village in March like any other chief, while Kairuma met me outside his village, no sepoys, however, being present.Kairuma's defiance was considered the last form of resistance to British rule as the Lushai Hills began to become influenced by their new conditions such as missionaries, written language, schools, etc.