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    Bodies of Myanmar PDF Commander's missing children found near Mizoram border

    Synopsis

    They were missing from the Hairual village along the India-Myanmar border. A senior official in the state government who does not want to be named told ET, “They were missing since Sunday. Lalnunpuii (17) and her younger brother Lalruatmawia (15) were siblings and children of

    Dead body representative imageAgencies
    Image used for representational purpose only
    Bodies of two missing teenagers, daughter and son of the People's Defence Force (PDF) of Myanmar Commander were found in a jungle near Mizoram border.

    They were missing from the Hairual village along the India-Myanmar border. A senior official in the state government who does not want to be named told ET, “They were missing since Sunday. Lalnunpuii (17) and her younger brother Lalruatmawia (15) were siblings and children of
    People's Defence Force (PDF) of Myanmar Commander Lalzidinga. The relatives of the victims are taking shelter at Zokhawthar village in Champhai District.”

    PDF is engaged in a fierce battle with the Myanmar Army.The PDF has been fighting for restoration of democracy in Myanmar.

    Around 31,000 Myanmar nationals, including 11,798 children and 10,047 women, have taken shelter in different districts of Mizoram. There are 14 lawmakers of Myanmar who are taking refuge in Mizoram.

    On August 10 this year, five Myanmar nationals were arrested in Manipur for illegal intrusion. North-eastern states are facing an influx of nationals from Myanmar post military junta who took over the reins of power in the country.

    The 1,643-km long unfenced India-Myanmar border is an open border with a free movement regime within 16 km on both sides.

    In April this year Mizoram government started issuing certificates to Myanmar refugees who are taking shelter in the state.

    Union Home Ministry earlier had sent out an advisory earlier to four north eastern states -- Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh that the states and Union Territories have no power to grant "refugee" status to any foreigner, and India is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention of 1951 and its 1967 Protocol.

    The majority of those who have taken shelter in Mizoram belong to the Chin community, also known as the Zo community, who share the same ancestry, ethnicity and culture as the Mizos of Mizoram.

    The military seized power on February 1 last year, detaining the country's elected leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, and members of her government. A one-year state of emergency has been declared in Myanmar where power is assumed by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.

    Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga had earlier urged the Centre to provide asylum to refugees fleeing Myanmar.

    He had also opposed the Centre’s order to security forces to stop Myanmar citizens from entering the state and deport refugees.

    The union home ministry in a communique to the chief secretaries of Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, and the director general of Assam Rifles on March 10 last year stated that there was a probability of large-scale illegal influx into the Indian territory due to the current internal situation in Myanmar. It had earlier issued an advisory to these states and the security forces to stay alert and take appropriate action to prevent a possible influx into Indian territory.


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