Over 1,200 Unaccounted Myanmar Refugees Discovered in Mizoram During Biometric Drive
In a significant development, officials conducting biometric enrolment in South Mizoram's Lawngtlai district have uncovered 1,280 Myanmar refugees who were previously unaccounted for. These refugees were found taking shelter at Hruitezawl village, a discovery that has impacted the district's biometric completion rates.
Refugee Numbers Surge as Unreported Cases Surface
The state home department officials reported that the number of Myanmar refugees in Lawngtlai district was recorded as 5,034 on February 27. However, this figure increased to 6,314 by March 6, following the identification of the unreported individuals. Lawngtlai district deputy commissioner Donny Lalruatsanga explained that the refugee count had not been updated for some time, leading to the oversight.
During the biometric enrolment process, district officials discovered that the village council of Hruitezawl had failed to report a large number of refugees to the authorities. This lapse resulted in the significant increase in the official tally.
Khumi Community Faces Persecution in Myanmar
A majority of the newly identified refugees belong to the Khumi community from southern Chin state of Myanmar. The Khumi community is part of the ethnic Mizos and inhabits both southern Chin state and Rakhine state. Community members have alleged that they face perpetual persecution from the Arakan Army (AA), a factor driving their displacement into India.
Hruitezawl village, situated near the Myanmar border river Chhimtuipui, serves as one of the busiest trading points between traders in Lawngtlai district and southern Chin state. Its proximity to the border makes it a key location for refugee movements.
Biometric Enrolment Completion Rates Decline
With the discovery of over 1,000 unaccounted refugees, the percentage of biometric enrolment completion in Lawngtlai district decreased to 87.05% on March 6 from 97.25% on February 27. Specifically, the completion rate for Myanmar refugees fell from 96.74% to 91.07%, highlighting the impact of the unreported cases on the overall process.
In contrast, biometric enrolment of Bangladesh refugees in the district continues at a slow pace. As of Friday, only 198 out of 2,042 refugees (9.35%) have been enrolled, indicating ongoing challenges in managing refugee documentation.
This discovery underscores the complexities of border management and refugee registration in Mizoram, a state that frequently hosts displaced populations from neighboring countries due to regional conflicts and ethnic tensions.
