Over 29,000 Myanmar nationals sheltering in Mizoram: home minister Sapdanga

Aizawl: More than 29,000 people from Myanmar have taken refuge in Mizoram since the military coup in the neighbouring country in 2021, state Home Minister K Sapdanga informed the assembly on Wednesday.

Responding to a query by ruling Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) legislator VL Zaithanzama on the opening day of the two-day monsoon session, Sapdanga said, “Altogether 29,046 Myanmar nationals are taking shelter in Mizoram as on August 11.”

He added that district administrations across the state have begun the process of biometric enrollment for the displaced people.

The influx began after the February 2021 coup in Myanmar, with most of the refugees belonging to the Chin community, which shares close ethnic ties with the Mizos. The Myanmar nationals are currently spread across all 11 districts of the state, with Champhai district accommodating the largest number — over 13,500.

Sapdanga also informed the House that the Centre is working on fencing the India-Myanmar border in consultation with the Mizoram government, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), and the Assam Rifles, which guards the frontier.

Mizoram shares a 510-km-long border with Myanmar.

However, the state’s civil society groups and student organisations, including the Young Mizo Association (YMA), have strongly opposed the Centre’s fencing plan, citing historical and ethnic connections across the boundary.