GUWAHATI
Mizoram is feeling the pressure of influx from civil war-hit Myanmar, an Aizawl-based activist’s letter to Home Minister Amit Shah has revealed.
Unlike adjoining Manipur, Mizoram has welcomed waves of refugees from Myanmar after a military coup in February 2021 made the country spiral into chaos. More than 30,000 refugees — mostly Chins ethnically related to the majority Mizos of Mizoram — are said to be taking shelter in the northeastern State.
Mizoram shares a 510 km border with Myanmar. The State’s southern districts have been affected most by the arrival of refugees from the neighbouring country since 2021.
However, there are growing concerns over the situation arising out of the refugee issue in Mizoram. On March 10, Chief Minister Lalduhoma said the people of the State should be wary of the law and order that could arise from the humanitarian obligations of addressing the needs of “our Chin brothers”.
Activist V.L. Thlamuanpuia’s letter to Mr. Shah the following day underlined the churning in the State over the refugee issue.
“I am writing to bring to your urgent attention the increasing influx of Myanmar refugees into Mizoram, which has raised serious concerns regarding national security, demographic shifts, and the strain on local resources,” he said in the letter.
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“While India has always upheld humanitarian values, the current situation demands immediate government intervention to maintain law and order, safeguard national security, and protect the interests of Indian citizens,” he said.
Appeal to Governor
Mr. Thlamuanpuia also appealed to the Mizoram Governor to take up the issue with the Centre, emphasising the need for strict border control and policy measures to combat cross-border crimes.
“The unchecked entry of refugees from Myanmar due to the ongoing internal turmoil has led to a surge in undocumented individuals entering the State. This has resulted in significant challenges related to border security, pressure on public resources, and potential security risks,” Mr. Thlamuanpuia wrote.
“Furthermore, the rising prevalence of cross-border crimes — including human trafficking, drug smuggling, and the alarming trade of explosives — has exacerbated the crisis, posing a severe threat to State public safety and national security,” he added.
He also drew attention to the “widespread use of fraudulent documents” by illegal immigrants. “Many undocumented individuals are obtaining fake Indian identification proofs such as Aadhaar cards, voter IDs, and other official documents, allowing them to illegally access government services and establish residency,” he pointed out.
Mr. Thlamuanpuia urged the Centre to establish strict verification mechanisms to detect and prevent the issuance of fake Indian identification documents, intensify surveillance and law enforcement efforts to curb drug smuggling, explosive trafficking, and other cross-border criminal activities, strengthen security along the Myanmar border to prevent further illegal entry and implement a systematic and regulated approach for refugee identification and management.
