Mizoram Police Official Details Likely Entry Routes for NIA-Arrested Foreigners
A senior official from the Mizoram Police department clarified on Friday that the seven foreigners arrested by the National Investigating Agency (NIA) on accusations of being mercenaries must have entered Mizoram and crossed the Myanmar border via train or road, rather than by flight. This statement addresses the ongoing investigation into how these individuals, comprising six Ukrainians and one American, managed to access the region.
Strict Airport Security Prevents Unauthorized Entry
The official explained to Times of India that no foreigner can depart from Lengpui Airport, the sole airport in Mizoram, without possessing a Protected Area Permit (PAP). Police personnel and officials from the Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau (SIB) conduct thorough checks on all incoming foreigners to verify their PAPs. "The state Police officials not only check inner line permits (ILPs) for non-tribal Indians at the arrival section of the Lengpui airport, but also undertake checking of PAPs for foreigners," the official emphasized. He added that it is impossible for the six Ukrainians and the American to have passed through the airport's arrival section without the necessary permits.
Alternative Entry Routes Under Scrutiny
Given the stringent airport protocols, the official speculated that the foreigners likely entered Mizoram by train, where only ILPs are currently checked, or by road through neighboring states such as Assam, Manipur, or Tripura. Supporting this theory, an SIB officer disclosed that they received information suggesting the individuals might have crossed the Assam-Mizoram border at Vairengte town by disguising themselves as Indian citizens. This highlights potential vulnerabilities in land border security that authorities are now examining.
Unconfirmed Allegations of Training Activities
Regarding the NIA's allegations that these foreigners were involved in imparting weapons and drone training inside Chin state of Myanmar, Mizoram Police officials stated they have no confirmation. "We have tried everything from our contacts both in Mizoram and Chin state of Myanmar, but the allegations are yet to be confirmed," they reported. This lack of verification underscores the complexities of cross-border investigations and the challenges in gathering actionable intelligence in remote regions.
The case continues to unfold as authorities work to piece together the exact movements and activities of the arrested individuals, with a focus on enhancing border surveillance and coordination between state and national agencies to prevent similar incidents in the future.
