Myanmar’s 29 soldiers, who fled to Northeast Indian
State of Mizoram following intense gunfights with militia group People’s
Defence Force or PDF, were sent back to their country on Sunday.
With these, a total of 74 Myanmar Army personnel, who
crossed over to India after their camps were overrun by militia groups in the
recent gunfight, have been escorted back to their country, said an official.
These 29 soldiers had entered Mizoram on November 16
after their camp at Tuibual in Myanmar’s Chin state, a few km from the
international border, was overrun by Chin National Defence Force (CNDF) — a
local militia group affiliated with the PDF.
“These soldiers were airlifted by defence authorities
to Moreh in Manipur. From Moreh, they went to Tamu, the nearest Myanmarese
town,” the official told PTI.
Incessant rains disrupted the process, which prolonged
their stay in India, she added.
The soldiers came on foot to Saikhumphai in Mizoram’s
Champhai district near Tiau river, the natural boundary between India and
Myanmar, and were received by the Assam Rifles and state police, the official
said.
They were in the custody of the Assam Rifles before
they were sent back to their country, she said.
Earlier, 45 Myanmar soldiers, who fled to Mizoram
after their camps were overrun by PDF, were sent back to their country.
At present, the situation along the India-Myanmar
border is peaceful and there are no reports of any clashes since November 15,
officials said.
Around 5,000 civilians also crossed over to Mizoram
after the fighting started in the neighbouring country last week, said a police
officer.
The State has provided shelter to more than 31,000
people from Myanmar, who fled after the military junta seized power in a coup
in February 2021.
PTI
