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NDTV
3 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Myanmar Nationals Who Sought Refuge In Mizoram Return Home
Around 2,500 Myanmar nationals, who had sought refuge in Mizoram following violent clashes between the Chinland Defence Force-Hualngoram (CDF-Hualngoram) and the Chin National Defence Force (CNDF) on July 5, began returning to their country on Saturday. Intense fighting between two armed Chin groups in Myanmar had forced civilians to flee to Mizoram's Champhai district on July 6. According to officials, around 2,845 people from Khawmawi and Rihkhawdar villages - both bordering Mizoram - had begun seeking refuge in Zokhawthar village since the morning of July 5. Most of the displaced joined relatives residing in Zokhawthar, while others took shelter at a local community hall, where civil society groups provided food and basic necessities. The armed conflict reportedly began around noon (Myanmar time) on July 5 in the villages of Satawm, Lianhna, and Tuichirh. According to reports, the CNDF forces launched a major offensive at approximately 8:30 am, with heavy gunfire continuing until 2:30 pm. The CNDFseized all eight CDF-Hualngoram camps, including their main base at Tuichirh. Five CDF-Hualngoram members were injured and evacuated to Zokhawthar, with one of them, who suffered a bullet injury on his face, being taken to Champhai District Hospital. Local leaders of Young Mizo Association (YMA) in Zokhawthar also confirmed that two wounded CNDF fighters received treatment in the village. Political Adviser to Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma, Lalmuanpuia Punte, visited Zokhawthar on July 6, and also crossed over into the Chin State to meet leaders and broker peace between the two factions.
Scroll.in
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
About 4,000 refugees flee from Myanmar's Chin state into Mizoram amid renewed conflict
About 4,000 people from Myanmar have crossed into Mizoram's Champai district in recent days following a fresh wave of violence in the neighbouring country's Chin state, The Indian Express reported. After crossing the Tiau River, which divides the two countries, the refugees have taken shelter in the Champhai district's Zokhawthar and Vaphai villages, The Telegraph reported. Most of the refugees have come from the border villages of Khawmawi and Rihkhawdar in Myanmar, which are adjacent to the Champhai district. A conflict broke out on July 2 between two armed groups who have been fighting the Myanmarese military – the Chin National Defence Force and the Chinland Defence Force Hualnogram – prompting thousands to flee into the Indian state. The renewed fighting was reportedly connected to turf wars between the two groups. Lalmuanpuia Punte, the political advisor to Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma, told The Telegraph that about 4,000 refugees had fled the Chin state in Myanmar. Following the military coup in Myanmar in February 2021, several Myanmarese persons, mostly from the Chin state, moved to Mizoram. The Chin state and Mizoram share a 510 km long porous border. The Chins of Myanmar and the Mizos share ethnic roots and fall within the broad ethnic grouping of Zo. The two communities speak the same Tibeto-Burman languages, and also follow the same customs, cultures and traditions.
The Hindu
07-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Ethnic conflict in Myanmar drives 4,000 Chin people to Mizoram
GUWAHATI A battle between two ethnic armed groups in Myanmar has forced some 4,000 Chin people in the country to take refuge in Mizoram. Officials in Mizoram's Champhai district said waves of Myanmar nationals began crossing a border bridge at Zokhawthar and the Tiau River since the gunfights broke out on July 3. The river demarcates a part of the 510 km border between Mizoram and Myanmar. 'The refugees are taking shelter in the houses of their relatives, schools, and community halls. They are concentrated in the Zokhawthar and Vaphai villages,' a district official said, declining to be quoted. The Chins of Myanmar, and the dominant Mizos of Mizoram are members of the greater Zo community, as are the Kukis, Zomis, Hmars, and Kuki-Chins (Bangladesh). It is not unusual for these ethnic groups to have relatives on either side of the border. According to community elders in Zokhawthar, the refugees started trickling in after observing the movement of armed men in areas close to the border less than a week ago. The 'warning shots' erupted into a fierce gunfight on July 5. Security officials guarding the border said the fight was between the Chin National Defence Force (CNDF) and the Chinland Defence Force-Hualngoram (CDF-H) for the control of areas deemed strategic for border trade with India. After two days of exchanging fire, the CNDF was learnt to have captured all eight camps of the CDF-H in the area. The two groups are part of the People's Defence Force that is leading a resistance movement against Myanmar's military junta, which captured power through a coup in 2021. 'Given the volatile situation across the border, we have not asked these refugees, many of them women and children, to go back. Our villagers and members of NGOs such as the Young Mizo Association are looking after the basic needs of the refugees,' the district official said. On Sunday (July 6, 2025), Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma's political adviser Lalmuanpuia Punte reportedly visited the border area to hold talks with the leaders of the two extremist groups for cessation of violence. More than 30,000 refugees from Myanmar and Bangladesh have been living in Mizorams since before the arrival of the 4,000 Chin people. About 2,000 Kuki-Chin refugees from Bangladesh arrived two years ago following clashes between their community-based armed ethnic group and Bangladeshi security forces. Apart from the refugees, more than 5,000 Kuki-Zo people displaced by the ethnic violence in adjoining Manipur have also been taking shelter in Mizoram since 2023.
NDTV
07-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Over 3,000 Flee to Mizoram Following Armed Clashes In Myanmar's Chin State
Guwahati: Intense fighting between two armed Chin groups in Myanmar has forced more than 3,000 civilians to flee into Mizoram's Champhai district, the police said. According to a senior Champhai district police official, at least 2,845 people from Khawmawi and Rihkhawdar villages, which border Mizoram, have sought refuge in Zokhawthar village since Saturday morning. The mass exodus follows violent clashes between the Chinland Defence Force-Hualngoram (CDF-Hualngoram) and the Chin National Defence Force (CNDF). Amid the displacement, authorities say that the true scale of affected children remains underreported. A police official on Sunday said, "The number may be higher, as many children may not have been counted due to the large influx of refugees crossing the Indo-Myanmar bridge and the Tiau River." Most of the displaced have joined their relatives residing in Mizoram's Zokhawthar, while others are being sheltered in a local community hall, where civil society groups are providing food and necessities. Lalmuanpuia Punte, political adviser to Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma, visited Zokhawthar on Sunday and also crossed into Chin State to meet with leaders from both factions. He confirmed that the continued fighting in Leilet had led to more refugees entering Mizoram, with most refusing to return due to fears of renewed clashes. The armed conflict reportedly began around noon (Myanmar time) on Saturday in the villages of Satawm, Lianhna, and Tuichirh. According to reports, CNDF forces launched a major offensive at approximately 8:30 a.m., with heavy gunfire continuing until 2:30 p.m. The CNDF is said to have overrun and seized all eight CDF-Hualngoram camps, including their main base at Tuichirh. A leader of the Hualngoram People's Organisation (HPO) - the political wing of CDF-Hualngoram stated that they didn't surrender, but were overwhelmed and were forced to retreat. Five injured members of CDF-Hualngoram were evacuated to Zokhawthar. One member suffered a facial gunshot wound and was later taken to Champhai District Hospital. Local leaders of the Young Mizo Association (YMA) in Zokhawthar also confirmed that two wounded CNDF fighters received treatment in the village. Meanwhile, the body of C. Lalhmuakmawia (37), a CDF-Hualngoram fighter killed in Saturday's clashes, was released by the CNDF and transported to the Chanmari West locality in Aizawl for burial. His funeral took place on Sunday at 3 p.m. Lalhmuakmawia is the second confirmed CDF-Hualngoram fatality since hostilities began on July 2, following the earlier death of Lalliandinga. Fresh violence was also reported on Sunday when Chin National Army (CNA) fighters launched an attack on a CNDF camp near Mizoram's Leilet village, across from Saikhumphai in southern Champhai district.
