Aizawl: Over 1,000 refugees from Myanmar have crossed into northeastern Mizoram’s Champhai district since May 2, with the possibility of an influx of more refugees amid plans by the Junta troops to move towards western Chin state after recapturing Falam town on April 25.Police reports said 811 refugees entered the India-Myanmar border trade centre in Zokhawthar village on Tuesday. An additional 11 people entered the village on Wednesday, bringing the total influx of refugees to 822 within two days. Biographic enrolment of the new entrants has been undertaken by police and the Assam Rifles personnel. The local unit of the Young Mizo Association (YMA) has been entrusted to look after the accommodations. Most refugees are staying with their relatives or friends in Zokhawthar and nearby villages, YMA leaders said.A village council leader of Zokhawthar told TOI over phone that the refugees who have arrived on Tuesday and Wednesday are mainly the elderly, children and women who will face difficulties fleeing quickly on an emergency basis if the Junta troops move towards the area. “I think that more will come only once the military attacks the area,” he said.Earlier, 151 refugees had taken shelter in Zokhawthar village after the deadly airstrike by Myanmar Junta warplanes in Khawpuichhip village of Falam township on May 1 killed seven people, including six children, one of whom was a 5-month-old infant. An additional 42 others have entered Saikhumphai hamlet in southern Champhai district.Since the military coup on Feb 1, 2021, the population of refugees in Zokhawthar has outnumbered the permanent residents, a YMA leader said.Reports from Rihkhawdar in Chin state, barely 5km from the Mizoram-Myanmar border along the Tiau river, indicated that the Myanmar junta govt is keen to recapture the border trade centre of the Rihkhawdar-Khawmawi sector. The area, which falls under the Falam township (district), is being controlled by the Hualngoram People’s Organisation (HPO) and its armed wing, the Chinland Defence Force (CDF)- Hualngoram, in coordination with the Chin National Front (CNF)/Chin National Army (CNA).
