As conflict escalates between rebel forces and the junta-regime in Myanmar, hundreds of Myanmar Army personnel are reportedly seeking refuge in India, specifically in Mizoram. The Mizoram government has reached out to the central government, urging swift action to repatriate the soldiers who have crossed the border.
Approximately 600 Myanmar Army soldiers have entered India, taking shelter in Mizoram’s Lawngtlai district after their camps were seized by Arakan Army (AA) militants in the western Myanmar state of Rakhine. The soldiers are currently housed in an Assam Rifles camp in Mizoram, according to government sources.
In response to the urgent situation, Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma engaged in talks with Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the plenary session of the Northeastern Council meeting in Shillong. Mizoram emphasized the need for a prompt repatriation of the Myanmar Army personnel seeking refuge within the state, expressing concerns about the potential impact on regional stability.
Chief Minister Lalduhoma, addressing reporters after the session, explained the humanitarian assistance provided to those fleeing Myanmar. “People are fleeing from Myanmar to our country for shelter, and we are helping them on humanitarian grounds. Soldiers of Myanmar keep coming, seeking shelter, and earlier we used to send them back by air. Around 450 army personnel were sent back,” he stated.
Myanmar’s generals are currently facing significant challenges as ethnic minority forces launched a coordinated offensive in late October, capturing towns and military posts, and prompting Myanmar Army soldiers to seek refuge in neighboring countries, including India.