Aizawl: Around 2000 people from Myanmar’s Chin State have fled to Indian state of Mizoram’s Champhai district early Monday morning to escape fierce fighting between the Myanmar military and People’s Defence Forces (PDFs) since Sunday evening, an official said on Monday.
There were reports about dropping two bombs by a fighter jet of Myanmar military bombarded Rhikhawdar and Khawmawi villages in the Chin State. The two villages are just a few kilometres away from away from Zokhawthar village in Champhai district.
A government official said 21 Myanmar nationals were injured in the gunfight, another Myanmar national identified as Chungthianmawia died after being hit by shrapnel of a bomb which exploded across the Tiau river.
Tiau river is a 159 km long river which flows along the Champhai district in Eastern Mizoram. This river forms a natural border between India and Myanmar.
“So far around 2000 people from Myanmar are taking refuge in Zokhawthar area following an intense gunfight between the Myanmar Army and the PDF rebels since Sunday evening. The number of refugees could be more as we are still collating information,” James Lalrinchhana, the Deputy Commissioner of Champhai district, told The NE Journal over the phone.
“One Myanmar national died, hit by a shrapnel, died soon after crossing the border and around 21 refugees were reportedly injured,” Lalrinchhana confirmed.
Assam Rifles officials manning the India-Myanmar border ale held meeting with village council presidents and Young Mizo Association leaders in view of the security development across the border.
“The situation along the border has been tense with many people from Myanmar having crossed over for safety. Our troopers on the border are on high alert,” an Assam Rifles official said.
Six Mizoram districts — Champhai, Siaha, Lawngtlai, Serchhip, Hnahthial, and Saitual — share a 510 km long unfenced international border with Myanmar’s Chin.
Mizoram shares a 510-km-long boundary with Myanmar.
“We could hear the sound of jet fighters and the sound of bombs dropping and firing across the border. Many of them (chin refugees) have come to Champhai district so far. Some of them have been sustained serious injuries and rushed to Aizawl for better medical treatment,” Robert Zoremtluanga, the Chairman of Refugee Relief Committee Sub-Headquarters Young Mizo Association Champhai district, said.
“We don’t know exactly the number of refugees who have entered Zokhawthar village since we were busy focussing on providing medical assistance to the injured persons and rushing them to Aizawl. But the number of the refugees who have crossed over till today is more than 5000,” Zoremtluanga said.
With more and more people fleeing Chin state, Mizoram is providing shelter to around 32,000 men, women, and children from Myanmar after the Myanmar Army took governance in the neighbouring country in a military coup on February 1, 2021.
