The Peace Accord MNF Returnees
Association or PAMRA, a former armed wing of the Mizo National Front-MNF, has
raised concerns, claiming that Chakma rebels from Bangladesh are currently
receiving military training in Mizoram.
According to PAMRA, the Chakma rebels,
associated with the Jana Sangati Samatee-JSS led by Santu Larma, are undergoing
military training in the Lunglei district and Mamit district of Mizoram. The
Chakma rebels are reportedly based in Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts.
The training activities are said to be
taking place in various locations within Mizoram’s Lunglei district, including
Psalms, Tara Banya, Chumochumi, Malchari (family quarters of JSS Shanti Bahini
cadres), Bhalukkyachari, and Andar Manek Village. In Mamit district, there are
reportedly two active camps – one in Silsury Village (Commander Alo Chakma) and
another under Commander Binanda Chakma.
Expressing concern over the potential
security implications for Mizoram and its residents, PAMRA has urged the State Government
to take immediate action to halt the training and send back the militants. The
association has also warned of taking its own action if the government fails to
intervene promptly.
PAMRA, once a militant group advocating
for the separation of Mizoram from the Indian Union, transformed into the Peace
Accord MNF Returnees’ Association following the Peace Accord signed in 1986.
The Chakma conflict in Bangladesh,
rooted in religious and ethnic tensions exacerbated by the country’s
Islamization policy, has led to the displacement of Chakmas. Seeking refuge in
neighbouring regions, including Bharat, the situation underscores the complex
geopolitical challenges in the region.
