151 Myanmar soldiers cross over to Mizoram

Guwahati: In the last 24 hours, at least 151 Myanmarese soldiers fled to Mizoram's after their camps in the neighbouring country were overrun by an armed ethnic group.

Around 151 Tatmadaw (Myanmar army) personnel entered on late Friday in Mizoram-Myanmar border Tuisentlang village in southernmost Mizoram's Lawngtlai district. They fled their camps in Chin state of Myanmar adjoining Mizoram after the Arakan Army (AA) militants overran and captured the military camp.

A senior police official said, "They belonged to the Light Infantry Regiment comprising 12 officers and 71 other ranks. They were carrying 83 weapons comprising 53 rifles, 11 pistols, 2 Rocket propelled grenades (RPG), 2 Mortars, 2 Sniper rifles, 2 Medium Machine Guns (MMGs), 5 Light Machine Guns (LMGs) and 171 hand grenades. The second group of 68 Myanmar army personnel, also from Myeik Wa Camp Point 377 and are of LIR (Light infantry Regiment) 61,62,583 and 586. They comprised 9 officers and 59 soldiers belonging to different ranks.They had 40 rifles, 6 pistols, 2 RPGs, 2 Mortars, 2 sniper rifles and 203 grenades."


The police officer said that nine of them were injured. They may be evacuated to Myanmar on Sunday. The Myanmar army base near Parva was captured on Thursday by People's Defence Force (PDF), or Chin Defence Force CDF), in this particular area and the Chin National Army (CNA) . The 83 Myanmar army personnel fled their camp and crossed international border at pillars number 2 and 4, and have eached Tuisentlang village.

Police said that Lawngtlai district Police officials have informed the Assam Rifles authorities at Parva village and the Assam Rifles initiated the repatriation process.