Kuki Chin refugees’ influx in to Mizoram continues, another 53 enters state

The entry of Kuki Chin refugees from Bangladesh into Mizoram continues. With the arrival of 53 people belonging to 11 families from Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts, over 470 refugees from Bangladesh have taken shelter in Mizoram’s Lawngtlai district bordering Bangladesh and Myanmar. 

Parva-III village sources said that the new arrivals were lodged in community halls at Parva-III and were provided food and other items by the villagers.

At least 471 refugees from Chittagong Hill Tracts have taken shelter in Mizoram since November 20 and a large number of them have been relocated from Parva-III village to Chamdur ‘P’, Mautlang, Vathuampui and Hmawngbu villages in south Mizoram’s Lawngtlai district bordering Bangladesh and Myanmar as well as in Thenzawl in central Mizoram’s Serchhip district.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Refugee Relief Committee (BRRC), an Aizawl-based organisation, said that 932 displaced people, seeking asylum in Mizoram have so far been forcibly pushed back by the BSF personnel since December 4.

While the state government, the local people and the civil societies have welcomed the asylum seekers from Bangladesh, who are ethnic Mizos calling themselves as Kuki-Chin community, with open arms, the BSF personnel continued to refuse their entry into the state, locals and NGOs alleged.

The Kuki-Chin community fled CHT and had taken shelter in Mizoram due to armed clashes between the Bangladesh army and the Kuki-Chin National Army (KNA) which has been fighting for a separate state in the CHT.

The Mizoram Assembly had adopted a resolution to help the refugees on humanitarian grounds. Mizoram’s MP in Rajya Sabha, K Vanlalvena had written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and also raised the issue in the Rajya Sabha. The MP and the Mizoram government want the Centre to direct the BSF not to stop the Kuki Chin refugees from entering Mizoram.

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