148 more refugees return to Myanmar from Zokhawthar
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Aizawl: With 148 more refugees leaving for Chin state of Myanmar on Sunday, there are hardly over 1,300 refugees taking shelter in India-Myanmar border trade centre in Zokhawthar village of Champhai district bordering Myanmar, a village leader of Zokhawthar said.
Zokhawthar village council president Laldinthara said only a few refugees are left in Zokhawthar as the large majority of those who fled Khawmawi, Rikhawdar and nearby villages of western Chin state since last Saturday have returned to their respective villages as the truce between the two rival groups of armed Chin militia held for three days.
Laldinthara told TOI over phone that almost all the refugees have returned on Saturday from around 9am to Khawmawi and Rihkhawdar in Chin state.
According to police record, at least 3,892 refugees fled their respective villages and were taking shelter in Zokhawthar village since gunfight began on July 5 as Chin National Defence Force (CNDF) attacked and captured eight camps of Chinland Defence Force (CDF)-Hualngoram while 2,319 people returned to Myanmar on Saturday.
The total number of refugees who returned to western Chin state of Myanmar rose to 2,568 with only 1,324 remaining in Zokhawthar as of Sunday, police said.
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