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GUWAHATI/AIZAWL: A band of 39 Myanmarese soldiers joined around 5,000 civilians from that country seeking refuge in villages of neighbouring Mizoram’s Champhai district since Sunday after fleeing a fresh outbreak of fighting between militia groups and junta-backed forces.
A 51-year-old refugee staying in a camp in Mizoram for a year died of a splinter injury after a rocket-propelled grenade fired by the Myanmarese army landed on this side.
Champhai DC James Lalrinchhana said the North-Eastern state, which already hosts a large group of Myanmarese refugees, said the new arrivals would be housed in existing camps for displaced people. Among the new batch of refugees, 21 were found carrying injuries. Five of them were said to be in critical condition. They have been taken to Aizawl for treatment, officials said.
Zokhawthar Village Council chief Lalmuanpuia said the 39 Myanmarese soldiers who entered Mizoram along with the civilian refugees fled the Khawmawi army camp across the border after it was overrun by a combined team of the Kachin Independent Army, Chin National Army and Chin Defence Force, all local militia groups.
The army deserters surrendered their arms at Zokhawthar police station.
Most of the new refugees are from Upper Khawmawi, Rihkhawdar and its adjacent villages in Myanmar. Barely 30 metres separate Zokhawthar in Champhai and Khawmawi village in Chin State of Myanmar. Rihkhawdar is around 4km from Zokhawthar. A small river named Tiau marks the international border in this part of the state.
A police officer said the home ministry had been informed of the fresh influx.
Since February 2021, more than 40,000 men, women and children from Myanmar have taken shelter in several districts of Mizoram.
A 51-year-old refugee staying in a camp in Mizoram for a year died of a splinter injury after a rocket-propelled grenade fired by the Myanmarese army landed on this side.
Champhai DC James Lalrinchhana said the North-Eastern state, which already hosts a large group of Myanmarese refugees, said the new arrivals would be housed in existing camps for displaced people. Among the new batch of refugees, 21 were found carrying injuries. Five of them were said to be in critical condition. They have been taken to Aizawl for treatment, officials said.
Zokhawthar Village Council chief Lalmuanpuia said the 39 Myanmarese soldiers who entered Mizoram along with the civilian refugees fled the Khawmawi army camp across the border after it was overrun by a combined team of the Kachin Independent Army, Chin National Army and Chin Defence Force, all local militia groups.
The army deserters surrendered their arms at Zokhawthar police station.
Most of the new refugees are from Upper Khawmawi, Rihkhawdar and its adjacent villages in Myanmar. Barely 30 metres separate Zokhawthar in Champhai and Khawmawi village in Chin State of Myanmar. Rihkhawdar is around 4km from Zokhawthar. A small river named Tiau marks the international border in this part of the state.
A police officer said the home ministry had been informed of the fresh influx.
Since February 2021, more than 40,000 men, women and children from Myanmar have taken shelter in several districts of Mizoram.
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