Myanmarese singer Benjamin issues apology for hurting sentiments of Mizo people

Myanmar-born singer Benjamin Sum, who is has taken shelter in Mizoram, has returned his forged Indian documents to authorities following and apologised for his act.

“I did not realize the seriousness of the thing I did, which was for the sole purpose of applying for a passport. I feel ashamed of myself and apologize,” Sum said, after returning his fake birth certificate to Directorate of Economics and Statistics and his Aadhaar card to Aizawl district Deputy Commissioners’ office on Wednesday.

Sum apologized for hurting the sentiments of the people of Mizoram and felt “sorry for causing a debate on social media platforms.”

The runner-up of the 2019 edition of the Myanmar Idol singing contest became a topic of debate on social media in Mizoram recently after he was found to have an Aadhaar card and a birth certificate.

The issue came to light when he registered his new motorcycle in his name, despite being a foreigner who fled his home in Myanmar in 2021 and took refuge in Mizoram due to political turmoil in the neighboring country.

Sum, one of thousands of members of the Chin community who are seeking refuge in the northeastern state, gained stardom in Mizoram and neighboring states following the success of his music videos covering Mizo songs, which garnered millions of views.

Despite having a huge fan following in the state and being accepted as their own, his forging of documents did not go down well with many people, who lambasted him with hate comments on social media. On the other hand, he was not devoid of supporters and sympathizers, resulting in accusations and counter-accusations on social media platforms.

Chins and Mizos share cultural and linguistic similarities as well as ancestry, which allows the thousands of Chins from Myanmar to take refuge in Mizoram state, with both considering each other cousins.

Also Read: How did a Myanmar refugee taking shelter in Mizoram, get Aadhaar card and a Mizoram birth certificate?