In a revealing turn of events, officials in Lawngtlai district, Mizoram, have uncovered a hidden group of 1,280 Myanmar refugees from the Khumi community, who are fleeing persecution by the Arakan Army. This newfound population has significantly boosted biometric enrolment figures, while also putting a spotlight on the ongoing struggle to monitor displaced communities along the border.
Aizawl: South Mizoram’s Lawngtlai district officials conducting biometric enrolment of Myanmar refugees discovered 1,280 refugees from southern Chin state of Myanmar taking shelter at Hruitezawl village.
These refugees were previously unaccounted for due to the village council failing to report a large number of them to the district authorities.The state home department officials said the number of Myanmar refugees in Lawngtlai district was recorded as 5,034 on Feb 27, but the figure increased to 6,314 on March 6.Lawngtlai district deputy commissioner Donny Lalruatsanga told TOI over phone that the number of refugees from Myanmar had not been updated for some time.
During the biometric enrolment process, district officials found 1,280 refugees who had not been reported to the authorities by the village council of Hruitezawl.Lalruatsanga said a majority of the refugees belonged to the Khumi community from southern Chin state of Myanmar. The Khumi community belonged to ethnic Mizos and inhabited both southern Chin state and Rakhine state. The community members alleged that they have been facing perpetual persecution from the Arakan Army (AA).
With the discovery of over 1,000 unaccounted refugees from Myanmar, the percentage of biometric enrolment completion decreased to 87.05 on March 6 from 97.25% on Feb 27. The percentage of completion of biometric enrolment in Lawngtlai district falls from 96.74 to 91.07%.Hruitezawl village, situated near the Myanmar border river Chhimtuipui, is one of the busiest trading points between traders in Lawngtlai district and southern Chin state.Meanwhile, biometric enrolment of Bangladesh refugees in the district continues at snail’s pace, with only 198 refugees out of 2,042 (9.35%) being conducted till Friday.
