At least 151 more Myanmarese soldiers fled to Mizoram after their camps were overrun by armed pro-democracy ethnic groups, officials said on Saturday.
According to officials, the Myanmar army personnel, also known as the 'Tatmadaw', fled to Mizoram’s Lawngtlai district with their arms and ammunition; and approached the Assam Rifles on Friday evening after their camps near the India-Myanmar border were overrun by the Arakan Army fighters.
Some of the Myanmarese soldiers were critically injured in the gun fight and basic medical treatments were provided to them by the Assam Rifles.
The soldiers are now in the safe custody of Assam Rifles at Parva in Lawngtlai district near the Myanmar border.
Intense gun battles between the Myanmar army and the armed fighters resumed during the past few days in areas close to the Indian border leading to the fresh influx of soldiers.
Like previous occasions, the Indian authorities would repatriate the Myanmar soldiers to their country through the Moreh border in Manipur after completing the necessary formalities.
In November, a total of 104 Myanmar soldiers including officers in different phases fled to Mizoram after their camps near the border were overrun by pro-democracy armed groups.
Since November 13, Myanmar soldiers fled to the Indian territory in different phases after their camps in Chin state were captured by the Chin National Defence Force (CNDF), the armed wing of the Chin National Organisation (CNO).
They were airlifted by the Indian Air Force to Moreh in Manipur, from where they had repatriated to Tamu, the nearest border town in Myanmar.
Besides soldiers, over several thousand Myanmarese, including women and children, took shelter in Mizoram's Champhai and other districts since last month following the gunfight between Myanmar's Tatmadaw (military) and CNDF cadres.
The district administration has provided food and relief materials to the refugees. Necessary medical aid has also been provided to them.
The first influx from Myanmar happened in February 2021 after the Military junta seized power there.
Since then, over 32,000 people, including women and children, have taken shelter in the northeastern state from Myanmar.
Mizoram's six districts -- Champhai, Siaha, Lawngtlai, Serchhip, Hnahthial and Saitual -- share 510 km unfenced border with Myanmar's Chin state.
On December 16, Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said that due to prevailing unrest around 6,000 people from Myanmar have taken shelter in his state in the recent past.
Manipur Police arrest 11 militants, recover large cache of arms, ammunition
The Manipur Police arrested 11 militants belonging to various banned outfits and recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition during the past 24 hours, officials said here on Friday.
PM Modi unveils 21-point action plan at 6th BIMSTEC Summit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday presented a comprehensive 21-point action plan during the sixth BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok, laying out an ambitious road map for cooperation across diverse sectors.
ED raids multiple premises of 'Empuraan' producer Gokulam Gopalan
Amid the controversy surrounding Malayalam film ‘Empuraan’ starring superstar Mohanlal, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday conducted raids at multiple premises linked to film’s producer Gokulam Gopalan.
SC declines PIL seeking restriction of social media platforms for kids below 13 years
The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking urgent judicial intervention to regulate access to social media platforms for children below 13 years of age.
BIMSTEC Summit: PM Modi, Yunus meet amid strained ties
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday held a bilateral meeting with Muhammad Yunus, Chief Advisor of Bangladeshi interim government, on the sidelines of the 6th BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok.
Rupee strengthens against dollar amid Trump's reciprocal tariffs
The Indian rupee witnessed sharp gains on Friday at below 85 against dollar, as the dollar index and oil prices dropped sharply amid concerns over recession in the US economy after the reciprocal tariffs were announced.
Quad to send $20 million relief support to earthquake-ravaged Myanmar
Quad members Australia, India, Japan, and the United States on Friday collectively committed over $20 million in humanitarian assistance to support the relief efforts for the earthquake-devastated Myanmar.
'Waqf Bill will benefit Muslims, no threat to religious sites,' says Shahabuddin Razvi
Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi, the National President of All India Muslim Jamaat, expressed his support for the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, stating that it would significantly benefit Muslims and ensure the betterment of their socio-economic conditions.