Category: AIZAWL

More than 8,100 children of refugees from Myanmar, Bangladesh and Manipur have been enrolled in Mizoram’s government schools, the state’s Education Minister Lalchhandama Ralte said on Wednesday.

Amid the differences between the BJP-led NDA government and its ally Mizo National Front (MNF), the ruling party in Mizoram, the opposition Congress has urged all political parties, NGOs and churches to come together to form a united front against the saffron party.

The Imphal-based Central Agriculture University (CAU) has made alternative arrangements for 40 Mizoram students, who are not willing to go to Manipur in view of the prevailing ethnic violence.

Mizoram Students' Union (MSU) on Monday urged the state Governor, Hari Babu Kambhampati, to resolve the issues and problems of state's students studying and seeking admission in Imphal-based Central Agriculture University (CAU).

Despite repeated requests, the Central government yet to provide any funds to Mizoram to provide relief to over 12,600 people, who took shelter in the state after being displaced from Manipur, where ethnic violence still rages unabated, state officials said on Monday.

The Mizoram government, following an instruction from the Home Ministry, has also started the process of collecting biometrics of Myanmar nationals staying in the state since February 2021, an official said on Sunday. 

These three constitutional autonomous bodies, formed through elections, look after the overall welfare and development of the Lai, Mara, and Chakma tribals, living along borders with Myanmar and Bangladesh.

The ‘Solidarity March’, which was held in Aizawl and various other districts simultaneously, has also strongly condemned the Central and Manipur government for the "brutal attacks" on the tribals and atrocious sexual assaults on the tribal women.

Officials said that Mizoram Director General of Police Anil Shukla held a security review meeting with senior police officers late on Monday evening and meticulously assessed the security arrangements and deployments of additional forces.

Amid reports of many Meitei community people leaving Mizoram following an “advisory” by former militants in the state, the Mizoram government has assured the safety and security of Meitei residents.

The Mizoram government has apparently been left embarrassed as at least 58 Meiteis left Aizawl on Sunday in an Alliance Airlines Aizawl-Imphal-Silchar flight.  Sources said no additional flight was arranged between Aizawl and Imphal on Sunday.

Security forces in separate operations since Saturday night have seized heroin and foreign-origin cigarettes valued at around Rs 29.43 crore smuggled in from Myanmar, an official said on Sunday, adding six persons have been arrested in this connection.

Amid the demand for a separate state for the Kuki-Zomi tribals in ethnic violence-hit Manipur, the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) in Mizoram continues their campaign to establish a homeland for all the Zohnahthlak (Zo ethnic tribes) across the northeastern region.

Zoramthanga, who is also the President of the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), said that many lives have been lost, there is bloodshed all over, physical torture and the victims are looking for refuge wherever possible.

Mizoram government on Monday said that it is likely to raise funds from the government officials, staff and the public for relief and rehabilitation of people of Manipur who have migrated to the state following outbreak of violence.

The tribal refugees have fled from their native villages in the CHT after an armed conflict started in mid November last year between the Bangladesh Army and the Kuki-Chin National Army (KNA), also known as Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF).

Assam Rifles and other law enforcing agencies in separate operations on Thursday seized heroin and Burmese areca nuts worth around Rs 7 crore smuggled in from Myanmar, and arrested seven smugglers, officials said.

The Assam Riflesm along with other agencies, on Tuesday seized one lakh highly addictive methamphetamine tablets, also known as 'Yaba' tablets, valued at Rs 33.33 crore and arrested a drug peddler, defence officials said.

Making clear his government and party's stand on 'greater Mizoram' or unification of contiguous areas of Manipur, Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga on Friday said that a state government cannot directly interfere in the internal affairs of other states like Manipur.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Friday that cyclone Mocha over southeast Bay of Bengal is likely to cause 'heavy' to 'very heavy' rainfall in Tripura, Mizoram, Nagaland, southern Assam and parts of Manipur and adjoining areas on Saturday and Sunday.

Mizoram, once a Congress bastion, is now ruled by the Mizo National Front (MNF) while the BJP is gradually becoming a strong political force in the Christian-dominated mountainous state.

After Nagaland and Meghalaya, the BJP is expanding its political and organisational base in another Christian dominated northeastern state Mizoram, where the saffron party last week for the first time swept the election to the Village Councils (VCs) under the Mara Autonomous District Council (MADC).

The Mizoram Police and the Assam Rifles have seized 5.44 lakh kgs of areca nut, also called betel nut or 'supari', valued at Rs 31.73 crore in the past 100 days after these contraband were smuggled from Myanmar, officials said on Sunday.

Though there are eight Project Tiger reserves in three northeast India states -- Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram, wildlife experts have mixed opinions about their further development and upkeep of the tigers.

Inaugurating and laying the foundation stones of 11 projects worth Rs 2,500 crore in Mizoram, the Home Minister said that the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project is said to be the most significant project that India has undertaken in Myanmar.