Enrolment in govt schools significantly rose post pandemic: Mizoram education minister

Mizoram State Education Minister Lalchhandama Ralte said in a meeting that enrollment in Mizoram government schools increased significantly after the pandemic.

Mizoram State Education Minister Lalchhandama Ralte, said on Tuesday, that the student enrollment in state government schools increased ‘significantly’ as educational institutes began reopening after they were shut because of the Covid-19 pandemic for a period of two years. Mizoram schools reopened for all classes.

GOVERNMENT STEPS TO IMPROVE EDUCATION

The State Education Minister said, “The state government has taken several steps to improve the education system and recruit more teachers, which in turn, prompted parents to send their children to government schools.”

RISE IN GOVERNMENT SCHOOL ENROLLMENT

The State Education Minister further said during a meeting at the Sakawrdai village that as per reports received from several schools across the state, the number of student enrollment in government schools has ‘significantly increased’.

The Sakawrdai village lies in the northeastern part of the Mizoram bordering Manipur.

He further said that in certain schools, enrollment has surged by twofold, necessitating the construction of new classrooms or the expansion of existing ones in a few locations.

COMMON UNIFORM FOR GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS

Mizoram Human Resources Development Board had earlier proposed to implement a common uniform for all government schools in Mizoram The was then approved by the State Education Minister Lalchandama Ralte.

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Aizawl To Become 4th State Capital In North East To Have Rail Connectivity Next Year

A new Broad Gauge railway line is currently under construction from Bairabi of Assam’s Hailakandi district to Sairang of Mizoram’s Aizawl district covering 52 km.

In a recent development in the railway sector of the northeastern region, the capital city of Mizoram, Aizawl is all set to get railway connectivity in the upcoming year.

With this major railway project, Aizawl will become the fourth state capital in the northeast to have a rail link that is currently under construction.

Officials informed us about the upcoming railway network in Aizawl as the NFR (National Frontier Railway) is laying BG (Broad Gauge) track up to Sairang town of Mizoram which is about 20 kilometres from Aizawl.

As informed by the officials, this rail project has been proposed with the cost of Rupees 6,547 crore and is expected to be operational from next year.

The construction work will be completed on November 2023 and at present, 70 per cent of work on the BG line from Bairabi- Sairang is already done.

A new Broad Gauge railway line is currently under construction from Bairabi of Assam’s Hailakandi district to Sairang of Mizoram’s Aizawl district covering 52 km. Mizoram: Aizawl To Become 4th State Capital In North East To Have Rail Connectivity Next Year Sentinel Digital DeskBy : Sentinel Digital Desk | 28 March 2022 7:57 PM Follow Us on Google News Aizawl: In a recent development in the railway sector of the northeastern region, the capital city of Mizoram, Aizawl is all set to get railway connectivity in the upcoming year. With this major railway project, Aizawl will become the fourth state capital in the northeast to have a rail link that is currently under construction. On Sunday 27 March officials informed us about the upcoming railway network in Aizawl as the NFR (National Frontier Railway) is laying BG (Broad Gauge) track up to Sairang town of Mizoram which is about 20 kilometres from Aizawl. Also Read - Assam-Mizoram Rail Link Likely By November Next Year The National Frontier Railway officials stated that the Broad Gauge line is being laid in the Bairabi area of the Hailakandi district of Assam to the Aizawl's Sairang area covering a 52-kilometre distance. As informed by the officials, this rail project has been proposed with the cost of Rupees 6,547 crore and is expected to be operational from next year. The construction work will be completed on November 2023 and at present, 70 per cent of work on the BG line from Bairabi- Sairang is already done.

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Unemployed Doctors Come Forward To Fight Covid In Mizoram

Aizawl: In a generous gesture, over 400 unemployed doctors, nursing students, laboratory technicians and pharmacists in Mizoram have voluntarily agreed to assist the government in Covid management, health officials said on Wednesday.

A health official said that responding to the state government’s appeal, 412 unemployed doctors, nursing students and laboratory technicians willingly engaged themselves in Covid-19 related works including sample collections, screening of patients, contact tracing, and providing care to the patients in Zoram Medical College (ZMC) and other Covid care centres.

“The state government has been facing huge shortages of skilled medical manpower. The voluntary engagement of 412 unemployed doctors, nursing students and laboratory technicians would be a great help for the authorities in dealing with Covid management,” the official said.

Of the 412, 37 are doctors and 144 are nurses, while the rest are laboratory technicians and pharmacists.

According to the official, around 900 doctors, nursing and para-medical students had voluntarily helped the Mizoram Health Department last year to deal with the pandemic.

A total of 8,032 positive cases have detected in the mountainous border state and on Wednesday, the active cases stood at 1,889 with 23 people succumbing to the disease.

Mizoram: Eight-day lockdown imposed in Aizawl, other district headquarters

A health worker collects a swab sample

• The lockdown would come into force at 4 am on Monday (3 May) and would remain in force till 4 am of 11 May
• There is no restriction in terms of opening of shops and other economic activities in other parts of the state

Amid an alarming surge in Covid-19 cases, the Mizoram government has decided to impose an eight-day lockdown in capital Aizawl and other district headquarters town from 3 May.

The decision was taken to curtain people's movement and activities, except essential services, for flattening the curve of the virus transmission and efficient testing, tracking and treatment, said a government order.

The lockdown would come into force at 4 am on Monday (3 May) and would remain in force till 4 am of 11 May.

There are 11 districts in Mizoram, including Aizawl.

"No resident of the Aizawl municipal area and other district headquarters town should step out of their homes during the lockdown, while intra-state movement or travelling outside the state will be allowed under exceptional or very essential case," the order said.

"State residents or visitors coming to Mizoram should enter the state only through those entry points currently opened by the state government and they will undergo mandatory Rapid Antigen Test for Covid-19," it added.

The government has mandated the returnees or visitors to undergo either home quarantine or at a government/hotel/community facility if tested negative.

Quarantine is not mandatory for people visiting the state for a short duration (lesser than 96 hours) provided they possess Covid negative certificates from ICMR recognised RT-PCR or Truenat or CBNAT labs. The certificates should not be older than 96 hours upon their arrival in the state.

Mizoram plans to become ‘Har Ghar Jal’ State by 2022-23

NEW DELHI: The State of Mizoram presented their Jal Jeevan Mission Annual Action Plan via video conference with details of the saturation plan for the financial year 2021-22, thereby ensuring that every rural household in the State gets tap water connection. Working along with the mission objective ‘HarGharJal’, Mizoram proposes 100% tap connections in rural homes of the State by 2022-23. Out of 1.27 lakh rural households in the State, 59 thousand (46%) rural households have tap water supply. The State has planned to provide 40 thousand tap connections in 2021-2022.  Total 34 thousand tap connections were provided by the State during 2020-2021.

The extensive exercise of taking up the Annual Action Plan (AAP) of States/UTs under Jal Jeevan Mission, is done by a national committee chaired by the Secretary, Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation and members from different ministries/ departments as well as NITI Aayog. Thereafter, funds are released throughout the year based on quarterly progress and expenditure incurred from time to time. The detailed planning exercise is undertaken to help the State achieve the goal of ‘HarGharJal’.

Under Jal Jeevan Mission, efforts are made to dovetail all available resources by the convergence of different programmes viz. MGNREGS, SBM, 15th Finance Commission Grants to PRIs, CAMPA funds, Local Area Development Funds, etc. The committee suggested that the Mizoram must utilize its funds for Water Quality Monitoring & Surveillance testing of drinking water sources and at delivery points. It was highlighted to involve the local village community/Gram Panchayats and or user groups in planning, implementation, management, operation and maintenance of water supply systems in villages to ensure long-term sustainability, thereby help achieve drinking water security.

Mizoram was urged to focus on support activities and mobilisation of community contribution. The committee also emphasized the preparation of Village Action Plans and the constitution of Village Water and Sanitation Committee/Pani Samiti as a sub-committee of Gram Panchayat with a minimum of 50% of women members. This committee will be responsible for planning, designing, implementing and operating & maintaining in-village water supply infrastructure. In all villages, the IEC campaign along with community mobilization to be taken up to make Jal Jeevan Mission, truly a people’s movement.

48 hours on, forest fires rage across Mizoram

According to a satellite data assessment by the Forest Survey of India (FSI), there were as many as 2,671 forest fire points in the state between April 20 and 26, with over 400 points on Monday alone.

By Jayashree Nandi


New Delhi: Massive forest fires that broke out on Saturday and continued to rage till Monday have affected several parts of Mizoram and damaged vast tracts of land, satellite images have revealed. No human casualty has been reported so far.

According to a satellite data assessment by the Forest Survey of India (FSI), there were as many as 2,671 forest fire points in the state between April 20 and 26, with over 400 points on Monday alone. NASA’s Earthdata website also showed a very large concentration of fires in and around the state both on Sunday and Monday.

Speaking to chief minister Zoramthanga, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday assured all possible assistance to deal with the situation. “Spoke to Mizoram CM, Mr Zoramthanga and took stock of the situation arising due to forest fires in parts of the state. Assured all possible support from the Centre in overcoming the crisis,” Modi tweeted.

The chief minister later thanked Modi and even tweeted a video of an Indian Air Force (IAF) chopper with bambi buckets (used for aerial firefighting), trying to douse the flames. “Thank you so much Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji. I thank the Central Government for its prompt assurance and swift action. The people of #Mizoram says ‘Kan lawm e,” Zoramthanga posted on Twitter.

Schools to Close in Mizoram Due to New Covid Cases

AIZAWL, Apr 12:  The Mizoram Government has ordered closure of schools for students up to Class VIII following a surge in COVID-19 cases. Fresh guidelines issued last night said that the State Government has again banned night church service and extended the duration of night curfew by two hours in all the district headquarters, including the State capital as the second wave of COVID-19 has hit Mizoram. The curfew will now be in force from 8 pm to 4 am instead of 10 pm to 4 am.

However, ongoing examinations for classes IX to XII will continue as scheduled.

Schools for students of classes V to VIII had reopened on March 1 and for students of classes III and IV on April 1.

Classes in universities and colleges, however, will be subject to the decision taken by the State’s Higher and Technical Education Department, the order said.

Meanwhile, Mizoram today reported 25 new COVID-19 cases, taking the State’s tally to 4,583. Thirteen of the new patients are returnees from outside the State, while the rest have been locally infected.

The State currently has 115 active cases and 4,457 people have recovered from the infection. Eleven persons have succumbed to the virus so far.

A PTI report from Aizawl adds: Churches, cinema halls, auditoria, community halls, picnic spots and other places of entertainment like resorts are allowed to open with 50 per cent of their sitting capacity.

The number of attendees at a funeral, wedding and any social or political gathering was fixed at 50, the order said.

Shops, hotels, restaurants and other business establishments will open under strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols.

The guideline said that all returnees from other States would undergo rapid antigen tests and those testing negative would be placed under home isolation for seven days.

However, they will not require home quarantine if they test negative in RT-PCR and TrueNat laboratories.

Returnees from abroad or new COVID-19 variant-affected States will have to be quarantined at designated facilities. But if they have already stayed 10 days in the country after arriving and tested negative during screenings at the entry points here, they will be allowed seven days home isolation.

Quarantine is not mandatory for people who visit the State for a short stay not longer than 96 hours provided they possess a COVID-19 negative certificate not older than 96 hours upon their arrival in the State.

29 new cases push Mizoram's COVID-19 tally to 4,612

Aizawl, Apr 12 : At least 29 people, including three children and a CRPF employee, tested positive for COVID-19 in Mizoram on Sunday, taking the tally in the state to 4,612, an official said.

Of the new cases, 28 were reported from Aizawl and one from Mamit district, he said. Eight new patients have travel history, while four were detected during contact tracing and it is yet to be ascertained how the remaining 17 people have contracted the disease, the official said.

Mizoram now has 143 active cases, while 4,458 people have recovered from the virus and 11 died. The recovery rate among coronavirus patients in the northeastern state is currently at 96.66 per cent.

The state has so far tested 2,62,310 samples, including 1,582 on Saturday, and the positivity rate stands at 1.76 per cent.

Altogether, 70,523 people, including 21,137 senior citizens, have been administered the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine till Saturday, state immunisation officer Dr Lalzawmi said.

Mizoram’s bond with people fleeing Myanmar

Centre wants these Myanmar nationals deported, but Mizoram wants political asylum for their ‘Mizo brethren’. A look at their common roots and continuing bond.

By Esha RoyAt a bridge on the river Tiau, which separates India and Myanmar in Mizoram. (AP Photo)

On Sunday, Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga held a virtual meeting with Myanmar Foreign Minister-in-exile Zin Mar Aung of the National League for Democracy.

The meeting took place despite the Centre’s reluctance to accommodate people fleeing Myanmar in light of the recent military coup and the crackdown on protesters — the Home Ministry has written to the governments of border states Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, as well as the Assam Rifles, asking them to identify Myanmar nationals fleeing the coup and deport them.

Assam Rifles puts 24×7 patrol on all entry points to keep Myanmar refugees out of Mizoram

Political refugees from Myanmar have sought asylum in Mizoram since the military coup last month. MHA wants them deported but Mizoram govt doesn’t want to.

By Amrita Nayak Dutta 

Assam Rifles personnel posted in Mizoram | Representational image | By special arrangement

Aizawl: The Assam Rifles has stepped up vigil along the porous India-Myanmar border in Mizoram, and is conducting 24×7 patrols to curb the influx of refugees fleeing the neighbouring country. 

The heightened security comes even as the central and state governments remain at odds about the way the refugees ought to be treated. Earlier this month, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) wrote to the Assam Rifles and the four states that share a border with Myanmar directing them to “check illegal influx” from the country, and citing earlier guidelines that call for the identification and deportation of illegal migrants. However, the Mizoram government has cited close ethnic ties between the Mizos and residents of the bordering Chin state to argue that it can’t be “indifferent to their sufferings”. 

Dozens of political refugees from Myanmar — including policemen — have fled the coup-hit country to seek asylum in Mizoram since last month, amid reports of human rights excesses. Most of the refugees are from Myanmar’s Chin state, which shares a 404-km border with Mizoram. The residents of Chin share close ethnic ties with the Mizo and Kuki tribes that are scattered across Mizoram and Manipur. 

This has resulted in a delicate situation for the Assam Rifles, who share a good rapport with local residents and often seek their help in anti-smuggling operations, as they look to implement the MHA order.

Sources in the Assam Rifles told ThePrint that the force has stepped up surveillance along the border and has been closely monitoring 58 crossing points — identified by Assam Rifles as being vulnerable to infiltration and illegal activities such as smuggling — over the last few weeks.

“We are manning all the crossing points along the border 24×7 with troops on rotation,” a source from Assam Rifles said, adding that patrols are being conducted strictly along the border. 

India and Myanmar share friendly ties with each other, and the security forces of both countries have carried out multiple joint operations against Indian insurgent groups that sought a safe haven in Myanmar. 

Both the countries have a free movement regime (FMR) that allows people in border villages to trade and move freely up to 16 kilometres inside each other’s territory. But the FMR has been suspended since March 2020 on account of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Brigadier Digvijay Singh, the commander for Assam Rifles in Mizoram, said the suspension “has resulted in more illegal transshipment of goods, since people in border villages need some economic activity for their livelihood”.

Asked about the Myanmarese nationals fleeing their country to seek asylum in Mizoram, he said “there is not much movement (at the border)” as of now.

“The few people who have come across are mostly from the FMR and they are confined only to community halls near the border, and all are accounted for,” he added.

Centre vs state

In a letter dated 18 March to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga said India could not turn a blind eye to the “humanitarian crisis unfolding in front of us in our own backyard”.

“It may be mentioned that the Myanmar areas bordering Mizoram are inhabited by Chin communities who are ethnically our Mizo brethren with whom we have been having close contact throughout all these years even before India became independent,” he wrote. “Therefore, Mizoram cannot just remain indifferent to their sufferings today.” 

The chief minister said the MHA’s directive to the four northeastern states — Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland and Manipur — and to Assam Rifles, urging them to prevent the influx of refugees from Myanmar and start their deportation, is not acceptable to Mizoram. 

“I therefore strongly urge you to intervene so that the political refugees from Myanmar are given asylum and provided food and shelter here in the country,” he said. 

Last month, after the coup, the Mizoram Home Department issued a standard operating procedure to the deputy commissioners of the districts bordering Myanmar to help the refugees arriving from the country. However, after the MHA’s 10 March order, the SOP was revoked by the state government.

On Friday, a delegation representing CM Zoramthanga met the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, and the two sides discussed the “pressing need to extend necessary help and support to Myanmar refugees who are victims of violence and brutality under military rule in Myanmar”.

According to a statement issued by the Mizoram government, the delegation ruled out the possibility of deporting the refugees until the situation in Myanmar normalises.

Do Not Send Back Myanmar Exiles

Mizo National Front Rajya Sabha MP K. Vanlalvena. File  

They are our brothers; sending them back will mean killing them, says lawmaker

A Rajya Sabha member from the Mizo National Front (MNF) said on Tuesday that more than 300 people who have entered Mizoram from Myanmar fearing the military crackdown in that country include pregnant women and children.

K. Vanlalvena The Hindu that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) was indulging in doublespeak as the Chief Minister had been assured recently that no one will be deported but on the other hand, the Ministry sent letter to the State governments of Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Mizoram that people fleeing the coup should be identified and deported. The four States share a border with Myanmar.

The Tatmadaw, or Myanmar military, had taken over the country after a coup on February 1.

Speaking in Rajya Sabha during zero hour, Mr. Vanlalvena said, “Over 300 Myanmar nationals who have crossed border include 150 police personnel who favoured the (pro-democracy )protestors. The State government and NGOs have given immediate help and shelter to these refugees. Meanwhile MHA has given directions to not entertain Myanmar refugees.”

“It will not go down well with people in Mizoram if the central government insists on deporting them. Being the largest democracy in the world, it is the responsibility of India to encourage and support any struggle to protect and uphold democratic rights and principles. They are our brothers; sending them back to Myanmar will mean killing them,” the MP added.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Vanlalvena said, “Most of them have relatives in our State. There are 16 to 17 roads that connect Myanmar to India, there is a small river, it is very easy to cross over to India. There is no fencing. The Mizoram government has also sent a petition to the National Human Rights Commission. They are not here for good; they will be sent back once the situation is peaceful. MHA should provide food and amenities to the refugees,” he said.

He said the refugees from Myanmar belong to the Chin ethnic group comprising Lai, Tidim-Zomi, Lusei and Hualngo tribes — related to the dominant Mizos in the Northeast.

“The Chief Minister spoke to Home Minister Amit Shah and he was promised that no refugee will be deported to Myanmar. But he gave this assurance about those who have already entered and now MHA has sent a letter to send them back,” the MP said.

MHA in a letter dated March 10 to the four States said the State governments have no powers to grant “refugee” status to any foreigner” and India is not a signatory to the United Nations Refugee Convention of 1951 and its 1967 Protocol.

Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday that “all foreign nationals (including asylum seekers)” are governed by the various of law.

“However, a standard operating procedure (SoP) was issued in 2011 by the Central Government and amended in 2019 which has to be followed by law enforcement agencies while dealing with foreign nationals who claim to be refugees,” the reply stated.

Almost 400 escapees

The Mizoram government has said 383 Myanmar nationals, including women and children have crossed over .

Mizoram’s Home Department officials told local journalists in State capital Aizawl that 297 of the asylum-seekers who entered five border districts have been verified while the remaining 86 are yet to be verified.

The unofficial number of Chin refugees is at least twice that of the official figure of 383.

“About 98% of the Myanmar nationals claim that they belong to the police force and fire service. They chose to leave the country rather than obey the military regime,” the local publications said, quotingd unnamed Home Department officials.

Six Mizoram districts – Hnahthial, Champhai, Lawngtlai, Saitual, Serchhip and Siaha – share a 404-km border with Myanmar’s Chin State.

Officials said only Saitual has not reported the entry of any refugee from Myanmar since the coup.

Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga and the State’s MPs have preferred a humanitarian approach, offering them temporary shelter and food.

“The influx could not be prevented because much of the border is porous. They cannot be pushed back now because it is against humanitarian values,” officials in the State were quoted as saying.

Mizoram group urges Centre to impose sanctions on Myanmar

A Mizoram-based group representing the Zo indigenous folks of India, Bangladesh and Myanmar has petitioned President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to impose sanctions on military-ruled Myanmar.

The Zo Reunification Organisation (ZORO) comprising the Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zomi group of individuals has additionally requested the Centre to not flip away Myanmar nationals who crossed over to flee the navy regime and supply them shelter on humanitarian grounds.

 

Their letters to the President and Prime Minister had been submitted by way of Mizoram Governor P.S. Sreedharan Pillai on March 12, two days after the Minister of Home Affairs requested the paramilitary Assam Rifles and 4 northeastern States bordering Myanmar to examine “illegal influx” into India.

Strong ties

Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram share a 1,643-km-long border with Myanmar, and other people on both facet are ethnically associated. The Mizo folks of Mizoram and the Kuki-Zomi communities in Manipur have a powerful kinship with the Chins throughout the border.

The ZORO sought Delhi’s assist for the restoration of democracy in Myanmar and speedy launch of State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, President U. Wint Myint and different leaders of the National League for Democracy, who’ve been detained after the junta seized management of an elected Myanmar authorities on February 1.

The organisation stated India ought to take the lead in fixing the present political disaster in Myanmar by imposing sanctions on the navy junta for human rights violations. “We request you to take up the matter on a war footing to save innocent lives and in the best interests of supporting democracy in line with the international community,” it stated within the letters.

Six Mizoram districts – Champhai, Lawngtlai, Siaha, Saitual, Hnahthial and Serchhip – share a 404-km-long porous border with Myanmar’s Chin State. At least 100 folks, together with deserters of the Myanmar police and hearth service division, have taken shelter within the border areas of Mizoram.

Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga had earlier introduced that his authorities would supply shelter and different aid to the Myanmar refugees on humanitarian grounds. While some refugees are being supplied with meals and shelter by the district administration, a number of others have been reportedly accommodated by the locals in border villages.

Mizoram NGO’s Proposal for Mizo Tribes in Myanmar

NGO United for Democratic Myanmar-Mizoram on Saturday met Mizoram Pradesh BJP President Vanlalhmuaka and asked him to request the Centre to give refuge to Mizo tribes from Myanmar.

Vanlalhmuaka had contacted the BJP National President JP Nadda on the matter and requested him to support the refugees

The deputy commissioner of Falam district, Myanmar has written to the Deputy Commissioner of Champai district in Mizoram to detain Myanmar police personnel and hand them over to Myanmar.

Deputy Commissioner Saw Htun Win in a letter to the Deputy commissioner of Champai stated, “It is to inform that according to inputs received from resources, 8 police personnel from Myanmar police force were runaway towards to Indian territories. Among them four police personnel had arrived in Aizawl, Mizoram and four police pertsonnel had arrived in Champai.”

The letter added, “In order to uphold friendly relations between the two neighbour’s countries, you are kindly requested to detain eight Myanmar police personnel who arrived to Indian territories and hand over to Myanmar.”

Myanmar is witnessing political turmoil, the government of Mizoram has gone on an alert. There is a crossing of people from Myanmar.

Unofficial sources, people in villages adjoining the border area said that around 100 people have come to Mizoram since February this year.

Mizoram Home minister Lalchamliana will make a statement pertaining to the people coming to Mizoram in state assembly on Monday.

The military seized power on February 1, detaining the country’s elected leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, and members of her government. Following which Myanmar is witnessing a series of protests.

A senior official in the state government who does not want to be named told ET, “The government has issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the identification of migrants and refugees entering Mizoram from Myanmar in connection with the military coup”.

Earlier chief minister Zoramthanga and home minister had expressed concern about the safety of Myanmarese nationals. Zoramthanga has said that the government and people of Mizoram would welcome any ethnic Mizo or anyone being persecuted for participating in the pro-democratic movement in neighbouring Myanmar with open arms.

India-Myanmar Road Project Nearing Completion: Mizoram CM

Aizawl, Mar 11 : The construction of a cross- border road between Mizoram''s Lawngtlai town and neighbouring Myanmars Sittwe port is nearing completion, Chief Minister Zoramthanga informed the state assembly on Wednesday.

The road is part of the Kaladan multi-modal transit transport project which is being viewed as India''s gateway to Southeast Asia and the project, when completed, will connect Kolkata with Sittwe seaport in Myanmar.

The chief minister, who also holds the Public Works Department portfolio, said that the length of the road between Lawngtlai town and the international border is 87.18 km and the work for a stretch of only 1.5 km is left to be completed.

The construction of the road in Mizoram side was scheduled to be completed by June this year, Zoramthanga said while replying to a question from the ruling Mizo National Front member K Pachhunga.

The construction work of the road began in Mizoram in 2010 but it was disrupted several times over compensation issues, he said.

The chief minister also said that construction of the road in Myanmar is also nearing completion.

The Ministry of External Affairs provided funds to the Myanmar government for the construction of the road in that country but work was also affected as the Rakhine based armed group Arakan Army demanded 10 per cent tax from the constructing agencies, he said.

The CM said that he had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the foreign secretary in Delhi and urged them to expedite the project.

Zoramthanga, who is a former rebel leader, said that the construction of the road in Myanmar has resumed after he negotiated with Arakan Army leaders with whom he has a good network.

He said that the negotiation was held with the permission of both the governments of India and Myanmar.

The bilateral Kaladan multi-modal transit transport project was launched in April 2008. PTI

Myanmar writes to Mizoram government seeking handover of eight policemen who fled country

Aizawl, Mar 7: Indian officials said on Friday that 16 people from Myanmar have crossed over to India over the last few days, of which 11 have claimed that they were police personnel. Myanmar has requested the administration in Mizoram to send back eight policemen, who have apparently crossed over to the northeastern State to take refuge, following last month's military coup in the neighbouring country, an official in Aizawl said.

Mizoram shares a 510-km-long porous border with Myanmar, where mass demonstrations are being held in protest against the declaration of a year-long emergency by the country's armed forces.

According to Maria CT Zuali, the Deputy Commissioner in Champai district, her counterpart in Myanmar's Falam has sought the "handover of eight police personnel who fled the neighbouring country and entered India".

More Myanmar nationals take refuge in Mizoram 

"I have received a letter from the Deputy Commissioner of Falam district in Myanmar seeking the detainment and handover of eight police personnel to Naypyitaw as a friendly gesture," Ms. Zuali said on Saturday.The letter said that eight police personnel from Myanmar have escaped to India.

"In order to uphold friendly relations between the two neighbouring countries, you are kindly requested to detain eight Myanmar police personnel who had arrived in Indian territories and hand them over to Myanmar," the letter undersigned by Falam district deputy commissioner Saw Htun Win stated.

A top official of the State's Home Department had said on Friday that 16 people from Myanmar have crossed over to India over the last few days, of which 11 have claimed that they were police personnel.

He also said that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has been apprised of all the latest developments, and the State government is waiting for a "direction" from the Centre.

Sources in the Assam Rifles, which guards the Mizoram-Myanmar border, said about 35 Myanmarese have sneaked into the State so far.

Assam Rifles DIG Brigadier Digvijay Singh, on his part, said security has been stepped up along the border to stop infiltration from the trouble-torn country.

"Several people have attempted to cross the border... We did not push them back by force but politely told them that they cannot illegally enter the Indian Territory. Many of them have returned," Mr. Singh, who is camping at Champhai, said.

19 Myanmar Cops Take Shelter in Mizoram

• ‘They got instructions from the military rule, which they cannot obey so they have run away,’ Indian officer said
• Dozens of people have been killed in Myanmar since February 1 coup as security forces have responded with increasing force

Riot police officers in Yangon. Photo: EPA

At least 19 Myanmar police have crossed into India to escape taking orders from a

military junta that is trying to suppress protests against last month’s coup, an Indian police official said on Thursday, adding that more were expected.

The men have crossed into Champhai and Serchhip, two districts in the northeastern state of Mizoram that share a porous border with Myanmar, the official said, declining to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue.

All the men, who are lower-ranking policemen, were unarmed, the official said. “We are expecting more to come,” he said, citing intelligence reports.

There have been several instances recounted on social media of police joining the civil disobedience movement and protests against the junta, with some arrested, but this is the first reported case of police fleeing Myanmar.

The official said that the policemen crossed over fearing persecution for disobeying orders and would be temporarily housed by local Indian authorities.

“They didn’t want to take orders against the civil disobedience movement,” he said, referring to the agitation in Myanmar calling for the reversal of the February 1 coup and the release of elected leader

Aung San Suu Kyi

.

Of the 19, three Myanmar policemen came across the border near the town of North Vanlaiphai in Serchhip district on Wednesday afternoon and authorities there were assessing their health, another police official said.

“What they said is they got instructions from the military rulers which they cannot obey, so they have run away,” Serchhip police superintendent Stephen Lalrinawma said. “They are seeking refuge because of the military rule in Myanmar.”

India shares a 1,600km land border with Myanmar, where more than 50 people have been killed during protests against the coup.

The junta overthrew a democratically elected government, and detained its leader, Suu Kyi, having disputed her party’s landslide victory in November.

Demonstrators hold banners calling to release Myanmar's ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi in Naypyidaw. Photo: EPA

India is already home to thousands of refugees from Myanmar, including ethnic Chin people and Rohingya who fled the southeast Asian country during previous bouts of violence.

A Chin community leader in New Delhi said police have rarely fled to India.

“This is something unusual,” said James Fanai, president of the India-based Chin Refugee Committee. “Because in the past, police and military just follow orders.”

Myanmar’s ruling military council has stressed the importance of police and soldiers doing their duty.

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