Myanmar refugees who took shelter in Mizoram, returning home: DC Champhai

More than half of the estimated 5000 refugees who had fled Myanmar following heavy fighting there, have started returning to their homes in Myanmar

More than half of the estimated 5000 refugees who had fled the heavy fighting between the Myanmar military and pro-civilian rebels in the western Chin state and had entered Mizoram on Monday have started returning home in Myanmar, Champhai Deputy Commissioner James Lalrinchhana said.

Heavy fighting was witnessed in the Chin state across Mizoram’s Zokhawthar, a village of around 600 households, on Sunday and Monday. The military junta faced reverses in the area after rebels, largely belonging to the Chin National Front (CNF), took control of two military posts, forcing 40 Myanmary Army personnel to cross over and take shelter in India.

The 40 Myanmar Army troopers, including two officers, who had crossed over on Monday and were facilitated by Indian authorities in spending the night were airlifted by the Indian Air Force to Moreh, in Manipur, from where they crossed over into Myanmar, on Tuesday.

After the Three Brotherhood Alliance, a coalition of three rebel armies opposed to the junta, launched a coordinated strike against the Myanmar military in October, and took control of several towns along the border with China, anti-junta rebels and other forces across Myanmar appears to have been emboldened to target symbols of the junta-led government in Myanmar.

Forces like the CNF were obviously monitoring the situation in the northern Shan state bordering China where the rebels were attacking the government soldiers. Rebels in the western Chin state, bordering India, too intensified their offensive soon thereafter.

While the rebels, according to reports, have seized a key border trade point in northern Shan state, bordering China, anti-junta forces like the CNF have taken control of a trade route in western Chin state, across Mizoram.

No major comments have as yet come in from the authorities in Myanmar and India on the situation or the possible road ahead.

Read also: Fresh fighting in Myanmar: Over 5000 refugees enter Mizoram

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