- By Radha Basnet
- Sun, 31 Dec 2023 07:40 AM (IST)
- Source:PTI
An Assam Rifles officer on Saturday said that at least 151 soldiers from Myanmar had fled to the Lawngtlai district of Mizoram after an armed ethnic group had taken over their encampment in the neighbouring country.
The Arakan Army fighters overran the encampment of the Myanmarese army personnel, often known as the "Tatmadaw," on Friday, forcing them to flee with their weapons and approach the Assam Rifles at Tuisentlang in the Lawngtlai district, the officer said.
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According to the officer, there have been frequent gunfights between the Myanmar army and the Arakan Army fighters in the vicinity of the Indian border for the past several days.
The Assam Rifles provided first aid to some of the critically injured Myanmarese Army soldiers who entered Mizoram on Friday. The Myanmar army soldiers are now in the safe custody of Assam Rifles at Parva in Lawngtlai district near the Myanmar border, he said.
The Myanmar soldiers will be sent back to their country in some days as talks are going on between the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Myanmar military government, the Assam Rifles officer added.
In November, 104 Myanmar soldiers fled to Mizoram after their military camps along the Myanmar-India border were overrun by pro-democracy militia - People's Defence Force (PDF).
The Indian Air Force transported them to Moreh in Manipur, from where they crossed the international border and entered Tamu, the nearest border town in Myanmar.
(With Inputs From Agencies)